Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves handbook updates adding AI-use rules and middle-school cell-phone ban
Summary
The board approved updates to multiple handbooks that add a 'student in good standing' policy, a middle-school cell-phone prohibition during school hours, and new staff guidance on approved AI platforms and limits on entering personally identifiable data into AI systems.
Board members approved revisions to student, faculty and employee handbooks that administrators said streamline redundant text and add new rules on technology and conduct.
Key changes approved:
- Student in good standing: A new policy clarifies that students with active truancy cases, persistent behavioral referrals or significant academic gaps may be restricted from extracurricular activities such as homecoming, prom tickets or fan buses until they demonstrate improvement.
- Middle-school cell-phone policy: For middle-school students, cell phones and personal smart devices will be prohibited from 07:45 to 15:15. The enforcement approach is confiscation with end-of-day pick-up; repeated refusal to surrender a device could lead to a formal discipline referral. Administrators said high-school rules remain unchanged for classroom time but phones are allowed during passing time and lunch.
- Watches and smart glasses: Administrators clarified that smart watches must be placed in "dumb" mode during school hours; devices used for texting or other smart features will be treated as personal-technology violations. Smart glasses with camera capability were explicitly included.
- Staff AI guidance and communication rules: The faculty handbook adds policy requiring staff to use only approved AI platforms and prohibits entering personally identifiable student data into AI systems. The handbook also tightens expectations on staff communications (discouraging personal texting with students and encouraging use of official, viewable communication tools) and outlines a new absence-submission system for staff.
Administrators said the changes will be highlighted during workshop week and that staff and families will sign acknowledgements indicating they have read and understood the handbooks.
