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Nottoway school board approves 2025 policy updates but withholds restraint-and-seclusion policy
Summary
The board voted to approve second-reading updates to multiple 2025 policies but declined to approve policy JM (restraint and seclusion), citing that the division does not have such a policy; trustees asked staff to align the new cell-phone policy with the student code of conduct and to revisit homeschool participation rules.
The Nottoway County School Board voted to approve the second reading of multiple 2025 policy updates but declined to approve policy JM, which would have adopted a restraint-and-seclusion rule the division does not currently use. Dr. Martin asked the board to approve all policies "except for policy JM because JM involves restraint and seclusion and Nottoway County Public Schools does not have a restraint and seclusion policy and so approving it would be saying that we do have a policy."
Board members discussed the homeschool participation policy (JECB). The division is adopting option 2, which does not permit part-time attendance but continues to allow homeschool students to participate in NJROTC where required by law. A board member asked whether outside students could participate in ANTC courses if a parent were willing to cover fees; staff said that decision rests with the joint board and the partner program’s policies.
Trustees also raised a textual inconsistency in the proposed cell-phone policy (JFCM). One board member noted that one paragraph allows students to "use and possess cell phones and smart devices on school property before and after the bell" while the next paragraph says students are restricted "from bell to bell," and said, "It can't be both." Dr. Martin and staff said they will update the policy language and align it with the division's student code of conduct; final code-of-conduct language will be presented for approval at the August meeting.
The board approved the policies (minus JM) after discussion. Dr. Martin said the JM policy pertains to restraint and seclusion practices typically associated with students with disabilities and reiterated the division’s current practice that it does not allow restraint and seclusion on school grounds. The board directed staff to ensure the new policies and the student code of conduct use consistent exemption language and to bring clarified language back for approval.
