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Policy committee forwards emergency updates to comply with new state laws; full board urged to act
Summary
The Policy Committee reviewed and forwarded emergency policy updates required by multiple Public Chapters, including changes to public meeting procedures, agenda publication, expanded public comment, family life education and digital device use; the committee voted to send the emergency revisions to the full Board for immediate approval.
At a June 18 Policy Committee meeting, board members reviewed an extensive set of model policy updates from the Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA) and agreed to forward emergency revisions to the full Board to align local policy with recent state law changes.
Committee Chair Kevin Powers and members reviewed second‑reading changes across personnel policies and a first reading of student policies before focusing on immediate statutory updates. The emergency items cited multiple Public Chapters and covered topics such as electronic participation allowances during disasters, a 48‑hour agenda notice requirement, broader public comment rights on matters germane to board jurisdiction, charter school renewal reporting, fiscal management guidance, mandatory internal control reviews, family life education updates (child trafficking instruction), a new policy limiting instructional digital device use in K‑5 in favor of teacher‑led instruction (with enumerated exceptions), grading policies including dual‑enrollment percentage allowances, and other items addressing attendance, promotion, discipline and special education coordination for military families.
The committee invoked the emergency procedure and voted unanimously to forward the revisions to the full Board for immediate action and legal review where committee members requested clarifying language (for example, replacing discretionary 'authorizes' with mandatory 'shall' where federal or state law requires action). The committee packet was made available for public review on the district website.
