Top 5 takeaways from USD 308 Board of Education meeting
Regular meetings of the USD 308 Board of Education are on the second and fourth Monday of the month at 6 p.m. in the Administration Center, 1520 N. Plum.
Here are the top five takeaways from the most recent BoE meeting.
1. Board Tables Student Cell Phone Policy Amid Debate Over Smartwatches
The Board of Education postponed a decision on a new district-wide student cell phone policy following a debate on whether to include smartwatches in the restrictions. The proposed policy outlined different rules for each school level, banning cell phones, headphones, and AirPods for elementary students during the day and requiring middle schoolers to have them off and stored in a locker or backpack. High school students would be permitted to have devices on their person, but they must be turned off and out of sight during class periods. Board members raised concerns that not explicitly including smartwatches would create a loophole, while others noted the difficulty in policing different types of watches and their legitimate uses, such as fitness tracking. The board ultimately voted to table the motion to allow for more community feedback and further consideration before the policy is finalized in student handbooks.
2. Major Renovations Approved for Faris, Woodland, and Lincoln-McCandless Schools
The board unanimously approved a construction and renovation project for three schools: Faris, Woodland, and Lincoln-McCandless. The project at Faris includes creating two “co-spaces,” or calming rooms, for students who are overstimulated or need a quiet space, and remodeling a dated bathroom in a functional classroom. The Faris renovation will also add a laundry area that can be used for students in the functional life-skills program and for other building needs. The projects at Woodland and Lincoln-McCandless (LME) will add two calming co-spaces at LME and one at Morgan, reflecting a district focus on providing necessary support to serve students in their home buildings.
3. Board Floats Idea of Year-Round School Calendar
A potential shift to a year-round school calendar was introduced as a future discussion topic during the board meeting. Board members expressed a desire to explore alternative calendar structures to combat the "summer slide" and better serve student needs, noting that they get students "just where we want them, and then they're gone" for the summer. The board acknowledged the complexity and significant ripple effects such a change would have on childcare, sports, and family schedules. The topic was scheduled for a more in-depth discussion at a future meeting.
4. District Proposes Eliminating Textbook Fee Refunds
The administration is asking the board to approve a handbook change that would eliminate refunds for textbook and enrollment fees for students who leave the district during the school year. Currently, district policy allows for a partial refund of up to $60, depending on the circumstances. The administration argued that by the time a student leaves, the district has already incurred the costs for textbooks and online licensing fees. The change is being presented as a first look, with a final vote to take place at the next meeting when the board approves the updated student handbooks.
5. Board Affirms Commitment to Live-Streaming Meetings Amid Policy Changes
The board discussed its policy on live-streaming public meetings in light of recent changes by Facebook and new state recommendations. A recent Facebook policy change means live videos are now only stored on the platform for 30 days, but the district is unaffected because it saves its own recordings internally via Zoom. The discussion was prompted by new state legislation encouraging districts to record and archive meetings, which USD 308 already does. The superintendent recommended against discontinuing the live stream, especially with a bond issue approaching, calling it a vital tool for community communication and transparency.
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