Personal Electronic Device Ban Approved
The Council School Board met for their regular meeting on December 17. All commissioners were present with Earl Henderson participating by Zoom.
No comment from the public was given at the beginning of the meeting. Each meeting has time set aside at the beginning of the meeting for public comment.
Superintendent Pat Griffin reports that the district is set to receive just over $1,078,778.64 for school modernization funds as a result of state funding from HB 521. The district expects the first portion of these funds by the end of December and the rest in February.
Griffin also reports that the initial deadline for the district’s federal programs review is December 23 and the on-site review is January 6th.
High School Principal Brian Joyce reported that the Senior Project presentations went well. The new full time guidance counselor, Joey James, visited the campus and is expected to start on January 6th. Joyce gave a ‘kudos’ to Ag teacher Trista Robbins for securing a $1,100 grant to purchase FFA jackets. For attendance, Joyce reports that 1-2 students may withdraw to attend homeschool online. He would like to work on a survey for those leaving the district to help them understand why students sometimes leave.
Mr. Royce Bauer, facilities manager, reported that they expect the new bus to arrive in mid-January. The Elementary Greenhouse work is progressing slowly. Bauer reported that they are waiting on time to get it done.
Mr. Brad Nishitani, Title 1 Supervisor, gave a detailed report of the AIMS winter benchmarking
Chloe Lucas, a teacher with the district who is on a one year break for maternity leave, took the initiative to hold a meeting with interested parents in the district who would like to see the district improve. She presented the solutions that were discussed at the meeting to the board as a parent.
Board member Steve Ryals attended this meeting and reported that it was positive and that he was happy with how it went. There were many things discussed during this meeting. One of these was that a lot of parents at the meeting did seem to be supportive of a five-day week over the district’s current four-day week. The use of technology in the district was also discussed. Lucas plans on meeting again with parents early next year to continue gathering feedback and solutions.
Dormant student body accounts were discussed next. The board determined that dormant accounts would have their funds moved into the district’s general account if there had been no activity within the last three years.
The board approved the updated and revised Policy 3265 Personal Electronic Devices. This updated policy further restricts student use of personal electronic devices on school grounds during the school day.
Policy 2580 was also approved by the board. This policy governs the use of animals in education programs within the district. The district posts all their policies on their website at csd13.org.
After an executive session several new substitute teachers were hired. The board also held the first readings of the district’s head lice policy and the policy for criminal history and background checks. This action allows the board to discuss these items in detail at their next meeting.
