Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Handbook Updates topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Norfork board adopts high‑school handbook changes on start times, phone pouches and exam exemptions
Summary
The board approved updates to the high‑school handbook that set a 7:00 a.m. student drop‑off time, require school‑issued secure phone pouches during the school day with a $35 replacement fee, and revise semester‑exam exemption rules tied to absences and conduct.
The Norfork School District board voted to adopt several changes to the high‑school student handbook aimed at clarifying morning supervision, limiting in‑class phone use and tightening semester‑exam exemptions.
A staff member presented the revisions, saying the high‑school building will open for student drop‑off at 7:00 a.m. and students must remain in the lobby, gym or benches in front of the school until the bell at 7:40 a.m. or, if available, go to the cafeteria for breakfast. "The high school building is going to be open at 7:00 a.m. for student drop off and students must stay in the lobby, gym or the benches in front of the school until the bell rings at 7:40 or they can go to the cafeteria and get breakfast," the presenter told the board.
The new phone policy requires students to secure personal phones in a school‑provided locked pouch at the start of the first period. According to the proposed language, pouches cannot be unlocked until the end of the day or when a student is checked out by a parent or guardian. Students without a pouch will receive a loaner for the day and lunch detention; parents will be charged $35 to replace pouches that are not returned in working condition. The presenter said the policy responds to several pouches that were not returned at the end of the last school year.
The board also approved clarified semester‑exam exemption criteria intended as an attendance incentive: exemptions available under limited absence counts and behavior criteria, with students having more than three absences required to take semester exams regardless of grades. "All students with C or below are required to take semester exams. All students with more than three absences are required to take semester exams regardless of their grade in the class," the board heard.
The motion to adopt the handbook changes was moved and seconded and passed by voice vote. Board members said the district will distribute the pouch consent form to families when pouches are issued and will include the new language in the printed handbook.
The changes take effect for the coming school year; administrators said they will send the finalized handbook language and the parent consent form to families ahead of student orientation.
