School board to adjust policies, rules

Published 12:57 am Sunday, May 12, 2013

The Austin Public Schools board is fine tuning its policies and rules.

At a Monday evening meeting, the district will request approval for a number of policy and handbook changes. of a 2013-2014 Elementary Parent Handbook, approval of a summer school handbook, revisions to the Ellis Middle School student agenda and a revised listing of the district’s rights and responsibilities for students.

Proposed changes to the Elementary Handbook include details on how parents provide input on their child’s class placement, and expanded hours at Kids Korner to 6 p.m.

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The changes also involve expanded privileges for using cell phones and other personal electronic devices in school. It leaves the use of such devices to each school’s administration, but allows the possibility for them to be used for educational purposes. If the devices prove distracting or violate other school policies, a staff member can require that they be put away.

 

Other business

During the meeting, the board will also:

—Hear departmental updates from Educational Services, the Community Learning Center and Special Services.

—Decide whether to accept a total of $1,830 in donations, including $1,400 from the Welcome Center to cover Taste of Nations expenses.

—Hear an update on progress at the new I.J. Holton Intermediate School from its principal, Jean McDermott.

—Formally change the district’s calendar to include a full day of classes in place of an early release day on June 5. The move will make up for class time lost from the school year’s five snow days.

—Hear a 2012-2013 Austin High School activities report from Lisa Quednow-Bickler.