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Tecumseh board previews handbook updates on student internet alerts, emergency safety removal and cell phones; holds fees steady
Summary
Administration previewed handbook language on GoGuardian/beacon alerts, an emergency safety removal procedure, and a forthcoming cell phone policy; trustees also agreed to hold food, athletic and facility fees unchanged and keep no pay‑to‑participate for athletics.
Administrators presented several proposed handbook and policy updates and the board discussed fee schedules for 2026–27 at the June 22 meeting.
Handbook updates previewed by staff include expanded language about beacon alerts (district monitoring of district‑issued Chromebooks via GoGuardian) that clarifies the district’s partnership with parents when alerts trigger during evenings or weekends. The presentation stressed the alerts are intended to prompt administrator‑parent follow‑up and that administrators may not see off‑hours alerts immediately.
Staff also proposed adding an "emergency safety removal" procedure to the handbooks. The administration described the mechanism as a temporary response that allows staff to remove a student from an educational setting if the student’s behavior presents an immediate danger or a substantial disruption. The procedure is described in the packet as temporary and supportive — pending investigation and including efforts to continue a student’s educational access — and is not characterized as disciplinary.
On cell phones, staff said the Michigan Legislature recently updated rules affecting school cell‑phone policy; the board will route recommended language through policy committee before adopting handbook language to ensure compliance with state law.
The board also reviewed program and fee schedules. Staff said the state currently supports free breakfast and lunch for all students and recommended holding prices for second meals unchanged for 2026–27. Athletic ticket prices would remain at the previously adjusted level, and the district will continue a no‑pay‑to‑participate approach for extracurricular athletics. Facility use fees for commercial and nonprofit groups would be held steady, and school‑affiliated booster and PTO groups are not charged for facility use.
Trustees asked for benchmarking on administration and maintenance spending compared with similar districts and asked staff to bring comparative data to a future meeting or policy committee. Staff said they will bring NIL (name, image and likeness) and pay‑to‑play benchmarking to the policy committee for further consideration.
