Coffee County School Board Policy Meeting

001policy committee meeting uh here at C County Board of Education. Got a lot of people here. I'm going to go ahead and jump right into item number one, which is the policy. It's going to have to be a new policy, prohibition of or possession and use of personal electronic devices. uh brief deal of kind of where I've been at on these things. I think everybody is aware of the Warren County policy that they have in place at this time. I think we went over that in the last policy committee meeting and there was questions about what was going to change. Some things were going to change and they were going to submit theirs back to TSBA to make sure stuff was right. Uh, as a matter of fact, as a part of that, uh, we

002had some email traffic with Miss Jennifer White with TSBA, uh, where we were asking for some of those. Uh, the only thing basically we got from them was, uh, the new state law requires certain specific exemptions regarding special education students and emergency use. uh and uh the board will be required to include a process for contacting parents during an emergency and that current policy does not have that pro provision. So those two items is not in the Warren counties. Uh, from what I've read, and I think everybody was provided that in the in the actual 49-6-3 House bill, it's kind of open with uh uh there's opportunities in it that the teacher or principal can make a discretion if the devices could be used during instructional time. So, it doesn't completely bar them. uh Warren

003County's POS policy does so there's some items there, you know, at first it was I was a little adamant because we do not we don't have a model policy per se from TSBA as we are always used to having on just about any policy. Uh TSBA did and I think that was in the packet as well have the this little sheet of just some of the synopsis the things that were broke down that you must have uh like I say you know Warren counties if if we go with a complete block it's in Warren County. If we don't go with a complete block, that's something we're going to have to discuss and look at and possibly incorporate. Uh we will have to add to the Warren County that if we use that as a blueprint

004uh use of devices in the IEP or 504 or individual learning plans, if that's the recommendation or plugged in, that would have to go into the Warren counties. Uh so basically those those two things uh I think we already have a we already have in the system here a uh means of contacting all parents in in an emergency anyways. So that's kind of a moot point to be in the policy unless you need to reiterate it policy. I think that's what they're meaning. And uh so we either completely block them or we put in exceptions and then we add in the IEP or 504 or individual learning plan. That's kind of where I'm at with all of the documentation in front of us. And at this time I'm going to open it up for further

005discussion. Mr. Chairman, let me say something for it's evident that we're going to have to have a new policy based on state law. Uh even though we've had something in our policies for the last several years about use of cell phones and so forth, we're going to have to come up with a new policy one way or the other and add some things to it. So, you know, it's a matter if you want to take what Warren County has and look at that as a base and then add to it. And it's probably going to be late June before TSBA will be able to come out with a model policy. Uh, so that's something to think about also. But I think if you look at Warren counties and then add to it what we need

006to add to it based on what Jennifer's told us about the new laws and so forth, at least it would get the word out that we're going to have a no cell phone policy. However y'all want to come up with it. But it's evident we've got to have we've got to have one different from what we have now. Regardless of which way you go with, Mr. Chairman, I'm going to consider that the I want to hear what the principles think later, but I'm going to ask that we consider go ahead and implementing as just saying if I interpret that right and adding the Warren County and adding these two whatever to it. We can all and get get the ball rolling. We can always come back later on if we need to and amend that

007after the state comes out with their final product with the model policy. If we need to tweak it a little, we could do that then. I just I hate that we I don't want to push this back too far because I think in agreement that we need to get this implemented for the next school session and we could tweak it and debate it and whatever all day long but I'm going to suggest probably we seriously consider and I haven't read the war county but we met with chairman early as you all know and whatever but that we I know we're not going to vote on tonight but we uh I'm going to suggest If we seriously think about implementing the Warren County plus adding incorporating the two amendments or additions or whatever, that would be

008that would be voting for it tonight, which is perfectly fine. It still has to go to the board. One thing to keep in mind is even if we didn't do anything tonight with this, the main board can can still act on a policy and develop a policy and move forward. And you can also wave the second reading if we needed to to get it implemented in time. Mhm. So, there's plenty of ways that we don't have to rush, but I don't, you know, the general consensus. I mean, if you want to make a if you want to make a motion as you talked about and get a second, we can get it on the floor and then open it up and really get some ideas because I definitely want to know how things are already

009working. Yes. And if we can implement those into these. Keep in mind that this group can can make a motion and approve it pending their recommendation to the full board and it will be on the May agenda. Yeah, Mr. Chairman, if you okay, if I interpret this right, then I'm going to make the motion that we implement or adopt or whatever the Warren County plus adding in the two. Okay. And then submit that to the full board for review and voting and whatever. Is there a motion's been made? Is there a second? I'll second it so we can discuss it. All right. All right. So, motion has been made to adopt the Warren County Board of Education prohibition of possession and use of personal electronic devices policy. Uh, and also add the language of including

010the IEP504 individual learning plans. And I guess your second item would be to list in the policy our uh emergency notification language because the anything else whether it's going to be a complete ban or exceptions made has to come in via amendment. Is that correct? Is that the way your motion? State that again, please. Your motion was to accept the Warren County Board of Education uh prohibition of possession and use of personal electronic devices policy. With the inclusion of adding the language, the students may use devices included in their IEP504 individual learning plan. And we must post in there as well the language of our notification, emergency notification for parents. We're doing Okay. So that would technically be a one of those or your individ or your individual learning plan. Yeah. And so that would

011fall under those. So that would be covered under those. Mr. Chair, one comment too. There's also in the law. I mean Warren counties does not meet the letter of this new law. Well, this is we're not voting yet. Okay. This is to get the the item on the floor and then we'll open it up for full discussion and turn it loose. Okay. And then it's open for amendment. It's open for all. Yeah. Okay. So, motion's been made, been seconded. Uh we are now open for discussion. First of all, I'm concerned that it doesn't meet the letter of the law. Okay. um in the fact that a teacher can authorize use of a communication device in the classroom for instructional purposes. That's in part two of the House bill. Um currently in my school, we have

012a no cell phone policy during instructional time and I have surveyed my teachers and I have over 75% of them that say that our cell phone policy meets the bill for that. We have pouches in each classroom now that they can turn their cell phone in or they have to they can't be seen or heard, right? If they are seen or heard and it's not approved by the teacher, they're turned into the office. We keep them till the end of the day and there are consequences, a hierarchy of consequences that they meet. This school year so far on first offenses, I pulled the discipline data and I have 430 kids. This school year, I've had 47 cell phone offenses the whole year for first offense. Second offense, I've only had 12, which tells me what

013we're doing for first offense works. And in the third quarter of this year, I only had one. So, I think buying the pouches and saying that they're prohibited is not going to be what we need to benefit our students or our teachers. We have many instances where teachers do use them for instructional purposes. I tell my teachers that the ones that do have complaints about the cell phone policy, we're providing you the tools, you have to use those tools, turn them into me so that we can provide the discipline and the backing that we need to for the teachers so that the students understand when they get a job, when they're working on the line, when they're working as a professional, there are times and places you can use your phone. It's not going to

014be locked in a pouch. You're going to have to have the self-discipline to learn how to use that phone appropriately. It's just like now we can't have our cell phones out on the table. We shouldn't be texting during meetings. We shouldn't see Robert, I'd have to write you up. I think part of it once they get to secondary level is we are training them to be responsible adults and uh having a policy like this that my teachers have bought into and they see that we do support them. They know that if they turn a cell phone into us, we're going to follow the proper steps to take care of that. So I think sometimes taking all the temptation away doesn't always solve the problem. Thank you for sharing that. Yes sir. Thank you. So the

015long and the short that's back to what I was mentioning the first time Warren County policy is the complete bar and ban right law does it. That's right. Which way you know obviously you got to go the law way. You can't go Warren County way on that. And there's also a limited number of consequences too, Robert, when you think about that because or Mr. Chair, I'm sorry. You know, the only consequences we have available to us at this time in my building are lunch detention, ISD, and rarely do they get sent to alternative school. So, we keep violating this as we know they they may, then we're going to get ourselves painted into a corner, so to speak. I'm trying to write down and track the differences that are definite. A definite I want to

016commend you because I've had it goes back to whoever's enforcing it. Yes. And if we've got a systemwide plan where everybody's doing the same thing, it's going to be easier for the principal and everybody to enforce this with the same consequences. I agree. And u I will have to commend you because I I talked with someone today that it's kind of off the cuff, but they were saying how you followed the policy of uh bus problems and that that you were one of the schools that they were very complimentary of because that and that goes back to following the following what needs to be done. Thank you. Another one on Thank you. Um but another thing and then that I would like to say too is that um I know in the high school level

017and even with ninth grade there are students who are involved in sports and athletics and they they do need access to their phone because a lot of them don't drive and it changes you know things right things just change all the time and there's got to be a way that they can utilize that phone that cell phone to get in touch with their parents or be sitting at school or or not or lose out on a on something. Right. Exactly. And and that that's the only thing that parents have talked to me about was that they didn't want to lose that communication. The transportation too when you're talking about transportation, but we have like 70s something students that are transported to the high school in the afternoon. So, we lock them in this pouch. What

018am I going to do to get those students on the bus in a timely manner and over to the high school for their sixth period or seventh period class? It it logistically it's kind of a nightmare, right? And that's things that's that we don't think of. Well, you wouldn't because you're not sitting in our shoes and have to think about it like that. So, I thought it was important that we share these with you. Let me ask you a question. Now, you're ninth grade. I haven't gotten over to your school yet. It's okay. Um, are your teachers do you require your teachers to enforce it? Yes, ma'am. Because I know in a lot of schools you'll get teachers who are like, "Oh, it's okay kids. Take it out for now." And then you get those

019who are really tough. So it it's really hard if you've got real lenient teachers for the tough ones because they come in with the attitude, well, I can get away with Well, I'll I'll say this. I'm not afraid to have those hard conversations with those teachers and explain to them they're making it hard on everyone by not following the policy and the procedure. Because if they do and we're all as a united front, it it changes the entire culture of the school and it also keeps our disciplinary policies and issues, you know, at a minimum. Honestly, it does. And once they start buying in and seeing that we are going to support them and back them, then I feel like we get more buy in with the teachers. And we have many of the students

020that when they get to us are like, "Oh, wow. We really appreciate that you're making folks follow the rules." So, you know, I I feel like we have a good handle on it. That's why I surveyed the teachers because I thought I said at faculty meeting, I may be misunderstanding. I may have a totally different perception of what's going on. So, we sent out an anonymous survey. When 75% of them say they feel like it's not a problem and that the policy, I said, "Do we need to tweak the policy, add anything to it?" And they don't, I feel like we're on the right path. either one doesn't matter. Well, I mean, I guess just two or three things and just just really tagging on because a lot has been brought out here um in

021my building and it's been quite some time now since I surveyed my teachers. But the primarily what I asked them is, would you prefer that there be a ban, a total ban on cell phones, or would you prefer that there be options where they could be utilized? And the vast majority of my staff did prefer a ban. Now, that was it was up in the upper 70s percentage-wise, and I'd have to go back and look because it's been several weeks now since we did that. But since that time, there have also been quite a bit of change with respect to the way the state law is is going to read once we get to the summer. Um, and as Miss Seller said, you know, when I read that, you know, the law says that each

022board of education must implement a communication device policy that authorizes a teacher to allow a student to use a wireless communication device for educational purposes during instructional time. When I read that, it says to me I've got a portion of teachers that have students use those phones occasionally in class for an instructional activity. My foreign language teachers are a good example of that. Uh there are various activities they do uh where that where those phones for all intents and purposes get connected and they're able to see answers that the students uh plug in up uh up on the video board. And um you know those are things that my foreign language teachers have said to me, you know, we want to be able to continue to do that. And uh I I rebuted to them,

023well we have Chromebooks. Now, one thing I'll say at the high school is not every classroom has a a set of Chromebooks. The majority do, but not all. Um, the foreign language teachers did rebut that uh, you know, the Chromebooks take longer to get set up. If you want to use them for an activity such as what I've described, you know, within 10 or 15 seconds, those phones can be working and and you can be answering uh, as a class. Um, so you know, I I've got to agree. I really think it comes back to enforcement. I think we do have to have consistency from classroom to classroom. And uh, you know, I I don't mind saying one bit. You know, it it's I don't think it's in doubt that some teachers um are sticklers

024a whole lot more than others when it comes to enforcing the policy. And that is definitely, you know, I think an issue to be addressed. Um, which which we do. Uh, but I think it's definitely something to be a focus. But I myself, I don't see based upon what I read here how we can ban phones in the classroom. And it makes me, as I read this, say, how could the pouches be utilized considering how this policy reads? I don't know how they could be. Well, I want to address the pouch just for a second. I I have retrieved too. And then I hate to say this and she'll hope she's not watching the video, but my granddaughter is in the sixth grade and she went on TikTok and there are 500 ways to open

025these. Just saying. She did it she did it in two seconds. Yeah. And then she found This is terrible. She'll kill me. Robert knows her very well. But uh she also found that you can order a magnet to open them on Amazon and it's 97 cents. I did see that. Yeah. So you can buy the magnets that open like I know a lot of teachers, not a lot I know how handled in some areas that they have something like a shoe bag. I do that at my school. Okay. I've got like they put and it's so it's much less expensive. Yeah. I bought them for every classroom and and the rule is it can't be seen or heard. We let them use them in the hallways at class change. They can use them in the

026cafeteria for breakfast and lunch. And that takes away a lot of the problems that you have if if a schedule's changed if a parent needs to pick a child up, whatever. That addresses that. The shoe pouches are hanging in the classroom. They can either put it in there or it can't be seen or heard. And if it's seen, then I don't have a complaint from the parent because they know what the policy is. And when I call them and explain, you know, when they can use them, I really don't have a lot of push back at all. What do you think if it was required that they put them in those pouches because it seems to me like it's going to have to be a consistent Yeah. I haven't really This is how I look

027at it, too. I think about what do I really want big picture? We want them to not have their cell phone out while we're teaching instruction. So, if I don't see it, we're good. And that means they could keep it. you know what they're going to do instead of putting in the pouch and say they don't have one and then it'll be in the backpack the whole time. So that kind of addresses both sides. They can either put it in the pouch or they can leave it put away. As long as it's not seen, we're good. There was there was a little uh discussion in safety committee uh not this last meeting but the meeting before there was a little bit of discussion when we had law enforcement had homeland security and had some others

028there. There was some discussion about those class change times times. Nobody's watching and using that. That being an issue of getting messages out, fights, different things, messages between students about things. Yeah. So, you can't say that makes it really does. That happens at home, too. Yeah. And at night, and a lot of things bleed into the school day. I mean, we're not going but during the school day when you're worried and and worried about something happening during the day that during class time one gets text come open this door or well that's that's a possibility always get into that. So that's kind of a double-edged sword. It is. I'm I I personally would have to do a lot more thinking of which way I would lean towards whether that being an issue of something of

029that nature or allowing it to give a little bit. That's almost what it is. Yeah, that's almost what it is. Well, there there are, you know, situations in schools and and you know, I' I've had it happen in my school this year. uh there's an altercation between students and next thing you know uh there's video of it going around and it happens unfortunately. We don't condone that. We absolutely hate that that happens. Looks terrible. Um and so you know what you're what you're describing there is exactly what I'm what I am as well. Um, but I I think about, you know, again, just this idea that students have to have access for instructional purposes. Um, I think about the fact that in my building I have I'm going to say 12 to 15 classrooms. And

030Mr. Damewood might know better. Uh, it it's somewhere in that vicinity. I have around that number of classrooms that don't have a set of Chromebooks. Well, so if there's no set of Chromebooks and students also do not have access to an electronic device of their own, then we're left with I cannot access uh my assignments in Google Classroom. U there's there's no, you know, set of Google of Chromebooks. I can't use my phone to access the classroom. So to me there I if if we're not going to be able to use them at all in classes, it opens up a situation where I believe we would need to invest in more Chromebooks. Um and and that may be doable. Um I think you would be I think you would still be using them during instructional

031time, class changes, free time, lunch, stuff like that. I think that was that that's where I was going anyway with my statement was in those time periods. I I'm also a little concerned about the fact that students with IEPs and 504s, if they're the only ones allowed to have them out, that could be discriminatory in a way. They could be singled out if we're not letting any of the other kids have them out and they're say, "Oh, they have, you know, yeah, but I'm just saying There's a disability act that makes a difference. There is there is but I'm just saying not to privacy between the two Yeah. No, they don't get to play Tik Tok. I wouldn't assume. Well, no, they shouldn't. Candy Crush and all that. No. Yeah. And we can even look

032at down the road situations like that where those issues were addressed through school as well. I see that as it says wireless communication device. I see that as talkers like some of our students have talkers. That's a wireless communication device. So that's how I'm reading that. Not that necessarily they can have a phone, but they're allowed to have their talker as a communication device. It's wireless. You have you have to also remember that in those situations those students typically are working with a professional oneonone. That's the way I see this. This right here, communication device, because we have students with communication device, but it's not the phone. So, yeah. Well, we have instances like that. Yeah. Right now, Mr. Gibby, the man, I'm gonna give you the floor. Yeah, no worries. I'm No, not a

033problem. Not a problem. So, I I will say I feel like middle school's policy contributes to Miss Sellers's success. Okay. So, you know, we've had fifth graders coming to us in the last couple weeks and this is a rule, specific rule that I talk to these fifth graders about when they come and visit middle school on their tour. Okay? And Miss Parsley can agree because she was there when I talked to the students from Deerfield. Um, but our rule is pretty simple. The phone's got to be off and it's got to be put in the locker for the duration of the day. That's it. If it's off and in the locker, there are no problems. Okay? But if it is outside of the locker during the day or they're on it, using it, whatever, then

034it's taken up. Uh and and so and then we keep that phone until Friday. So if a phone's taken up on Monday, we keep it till Friday. If it's taken up Friday morning, I call the parents and I say, "Hey, your child's phone was taken up today. I'm going to need you to come get it." Okay? And and so that's in our handbook. And and I don't know if you all remember this or not, but I tackled this three years ago when I went to middle school. Okay? Um at the start there was a lot of push back. Uh but since then, I've had very very little. Okay? And so phones kept till Friday. We keep keep it locked up in the office. No one can get to them. They're labeled all those things. So

035when a parent comes and signs it out, we have a notebook that we keep up with all of that. Then we know that they're getting their child's phone. Second time, there's a 10-day ban. Phone's not allowed to come to school for 10 days. That's two weeks, right? Um and so if they bring it, then there's consequence of ISD, in school detention, and things of that nature. the third time, the phone's banging for the rest of the school year. And so, um, and I I've not ever had a student reach that third time yet. Now, yes, I have had a few reach the 10day ban. Um, but when I call parents, you know, I we just explain what's what's taking place and how it works. Um, I would say 95% of the time parents are okay

036with it. And to be honest with you, I've had a few parents say, "I'm gonna let you hold on to that phone for a few weeks because I don't want my child to have it. They need to learn a lesson here." And and so I'll say, "Okay, it'll be here when you're ready to come get it." And they wind up come getting it, you know, few weeks after that. So, um, but that's how I explain it to our fifth graders who are coming to us as sixth graders for the following year. It's a pretty simple rule. Off and in the locker. They do that, there are no problems. What do you do about instructional time or are they young enough? No. So, I do have the same thing as high school. I do have a

037few teachers that will say, "Hey, Dr. Anderson, can we use the phone? If they have a phone, can they use it during class time?" I absolutely you can. You're a professional. You should be able to make that decision. So, you know, most of my teachers have a board or something like that outside their classrooms. They'll write on that board or they'll give them special instructions the day before. Students bring the phone if they have it with them. They do whatever they're going to do with in class and then I know I've had teachers say, "Okay, we're going to go get these phones put up." And they'll get them put up before the class changes. And and it runs beautifully, right? I mean, it works great. So, in my opinion, you leave that in the professional

038autonomy of the teacher to be able to say, "Yes, we're using a phone today. No, we're not using a phone today." Um, but we all know that the policy is it's got to be locked turned, you know, in the locker and off. Um, so and I can say teachers have been excited about this, 100% support this at middle school. Um, they were very excited when we when we made this move three years ago. So, and it seems to work. You know, that's that's an that's an option because you're not completely barring usage. No. So, you're staying within the law uh for allowing for instructional time. Mhm. [Music] That uh because obviously looking at the Warren County policy pretty much lines one through 18 has to just come out. They'd have to be strict and we

039just have to we just have to develop that and then we will have to move to the back uh line 16 and on the first offense, second offense, third offense, fourth and above and address those. Well, I just feel we need one standard policy for every school because I don't I think parents would appreciate that. Well, they know the the rules because I mean both of those it's working for both of y'all, but some way or another if y'all could come up with in the high school, all three of you that would work for all three schools because I think that's that's the issue with parents because they got one kid at the high school, one kid at the middle school, maybe one there. And there's all different policies. So, if we just had one

040for that. What about elementary? We didn't hear about Sounds like you're nicer. Pardon me. Well, sounds like you're nicer, but it works great. I mean, honestly, because and if we think about it, you know, the students that I have, you know, I will have to say when I ask kids that are coming from elementary schools, how many of you have a cell phone? Like today, when I ask those kids, I'd say 90% of them have a cell phone. And then I said, how many of you take it to school? Probably 50 of percent of those kids are taking it to their elementary schools during the day. Um, and we just require them to have the cell phones off and in their backpack. And it's really not a problem at all. I haven't taken any up

041this year, but it's just in similar to his, but we don't have lockers. Off and in your backpack. But students that I have, honestly, yes, many of them have that tool, but don't know necessarily know how to use that tool appropriately, right? And by the time they get to Raider Academy in high school, they are older, more mature. They understand a little bit more. Oh, I this this device is actually something that could help me in class, right? I mean, it's not just something a toy, not something to play on. And unfortunately, that's why I think a lot of our kids at middle school think have a cell phone, especially our sixth graders. Um, so I think a little more constraint, you know, a little more constraint at the middle school helps as you go

042further in in their educational career. We're starting to train them to be, like I said, responsible adults. They're definitely not adults because I deal with them every day. However, we do, you know, when we do discipline of any type, we try to relate it back to when they become adults, when they're going to be in the real world, when you have a job. I'm not just punishing you for being tardy to class. What happens if you're late to your job? What happens that kind of relate it back and make it relevant? And the same is true with this. We've got to learn how to use these things appropriately. The tools are available. It's our job to help them learn how to use them appropriately. So I think the consensus listening to all three four people

043and Miss Freda, you can follow everybody. The way I'm understanding it is all and out of sight. Correct. Unless allowed or needed for instruction, no matter what grade you're in. That's what I'm saying. And then work on the fences. That's basically what I'm seeing. Well, there's a difference though because at middle school, you don't have them between classes. They're in their lockers. That's where they're supposed to be. Yes, ma'am. And and and they do here with us. They do. Right. Yeah. They do carry them in their backpack. Yeah. So, it's kind of compromising between you two with the off and out of sight rather than you specifying locker. And you know, I I don't know the repercussion or the reasonings that he couldn't in his school enforce that as his off and out of sight

044means in the lockers, right? her off and out of sight means no I don't interpret that way because if there were say there was a a crisis in the school the kid that has his in his backpack has access to it or those in the locker don't to me put them in the locker is the same as banning it because they don't have access to it all day you might as well that's the same thing we were given and I can't remember I can't remember if it was in the safety committee or if it was from the fellow from Warren County. We were given the statistical information about the need for an emergency situation. The statistical information was better that they didn't have them in emergency situation than actually having them in an emergency situation.

045Yeah. And I'm not saying I wouldn't but what I'm saying is that's banning them when you put them in a locker all day. That's the same thing as well. Not unless you have an instructional time that he has, you know, then they say they arrange for them. Well, that's the way it is at Warren County, take them back and stuff like that. No, that's what the way Jimmy does middle school, right? I will say I will say this, the rule is for it to be off and in the locker. I would say 97% have them in their lockers. I wouldn't say 97% have them off, but I we're not going to go around and we're going to like we're not gonna we're not going to, you know, monitor that, so to speak. Um, so if

046a if a child goes to their locker, they have access to that phone, right? It's in there, could they check a message if they chose to do that with their locker door covering up what they're doing? Yep. A whole lot of them do that, right? But again, it's kind of, are we accomplishing what we need to accomplish here? What's the big what do we want in the big picture? And and so I don't know. I I don't see the locker as it being in the locker as a ban, but that's that's my opinion. But if that's the rule, then that's where they're supposed to be in the locker. So it's the ban. That would be like saying, you know, getting those things and they still sneak them sneak them in. You're still banning them. Even

047though they sneak them in. Well, if they're hanging on the outside of the door, they're still banned. They have they have no more I mean maybe a few steps depends on where their locker Well, they have it between classes and lunch. Well, they still have between classes and lunch at him if they want. If they if they open their door and do it, do they go they can't go to the lunchroom and use their phone? No. No. No. there again. Then we start talking about some of the safety aspects of it of those time period while they're at school of being able to have outside communication with people or communication with other people in within the school. Hey, I know where all the teachers are. You go ahead and there ends up being another big

048fight in the bathroom or on the other side. And I can I can tell you that's the way the safety aspects of it was presented to us. My my first year at middle school, it was kind of kind of out of sight, out of, you know, off it off and out of sight. And I had I I still had tons of kids with them in their pockets. They had them on. They were doing videos of whatever they were doing. It did not prohibit the distraction in the classroom. But if the teacher was if the teacher was enforcing that, then that wouldn't Oh, trust me. They were enforcing it. And it was constant constant that we were having to deal with that. So yes, it was being enforced. So even if it was enforced, they came

049back again the next day with them. Yes, ma'am. Absolutely. I mean that something's wrong there if that's happening. What would they just chaos. But the the just to reiterate on that, state law says they can't do that. No, no, no. State law, state law says well well they cannot ban them completely right now. So that's what's making this tough is it's one of those like you say it sounds like the compromise here along with Warren County and state law is basically out of out of sight and off uh unless instructed to for in classroom instruction or it's health medical or those items there and and that's the reason I said that a while ago about basically We're sitting here as a group and often out of sight unless allowed or needed for instruction and then

050offenses and we can work with Warren counties on that I think but it would take removing that lines one through 18 and start over because you're 19 through 20 19 through 15. Uh it's pretty much in line with law and just good jargon and a policy. If I could, um Miss Katrina Wright, one of the assistant principles at the high school and I went and visited Warren County High School. I think it's been two and a half, three months ago now. Again, I've lost track of the time. I've got my notes. Um and we we were able to talk with uh Mr. Mr. Chris Hobbs, the building principal, for probably about three hours. He toured us around the building. He showed us the the magnets that are used at the exits and entrances. Uh showed

051us the pouches um and and discussed, you know, the the consequences for, you know, violation of of the policies which we have here. Um, one of the things that sort of stuck with me, uh, walking around the building, um, there were two or three teachers that we were able to talk with. Not a lot. I mean, class was going on. Um, uh, there was one particular teacher that said she thought it had been great, you know, them having the pouches. Uh, it had eliminated issues in her view. um another teacher out in the hallway and this was in the presence of the principal and she was a veteran teacher there. She said, you know, let me tell you what I would do. And she said, Mr. Hobbs, don't get don't get angry at me for

052saying this. Uh but she said, you know, if I were you all, I wouldn't purchase pouches. I would simply say keep your phone put away. Um you know, don't get it out. you know, basically enforce your policies and uh that was a teacher there suggestion. Again, we just had opportunity to talk with two or three. Um but you know, I I will say I think the majority of folks appear to be happy with what they were doing at Warren County. Uh I think at this point it's just that we are not able to do what they are doing at Warren County uh based upon well the transition in the law. Don't misunderstand me about using We have a motion on the floor to use the Warren County and the easiest thing I'm looking at is

053striking that whole banning area first part out. First part out the the other pieces would that they need to be in any policy just to explain legal terms and things of that nature, right? Uh the offenses doesn't line up with what you're used to that we probably should take many different ideas from. U and like I say again that that that's just the synopsis I got from what everybody was saying was basically off and out of sight unless instructed otherw otherwise. And if if that is something if that is something we can move for. I've just about forgot what the motion that is on the floor is. It would take it would take an amendment of such. I ask a question Mr. Yes, sir. Uh, Dr. Anderson, if a student has a phone in their

054possession and it rings or goes off, they're not allowed to answer that. Is that phone taken up at that point? Phone is taken up. Actually, when they're actually using it for something or just when it goes off or it rings or dings or whatever it might do, if it's out of their locker, it's taken up whether it's on or off. Miss Angela, what about yours? mine in class if it is goes off if it's seen or heard is the policy that it's taken up unless they are specifically doing some instructional activity that is approved by me to use the phone. Okay. Thank you. So y'all are kind of lining up there on this or punishment of it. We don't keep the phones overnight though. We give the phones back every night. So we're we're giving

055and taking a little here and putting together one one sheet for Miss Freeda. No, not for me. I think I think it'd be be easier for parents putting together one policy, you know, that Right. and and and and that's a good idea and another good aspect of that is because they're going to know this policy from the time they're kindergarten till they're 12th grader. I agree. So, you can't say you didn't know. That's right. One thing that I noticed with respect to uh the enforcement of the policy and the consequences for violation of the policy. Um I know Miss Freda you had commented that you know it would be best to have consistent consequences across the board from one school to another and I don't disagree with that at all. Um, but one thing I

056would point out is that there are some consequences that we might have at the high school that Mr. Anderson doesn't have at his school. Uh, and vice versa. Um, I know Miss Sers and I have lunch detention as a consequence that is utilized prior to students missing a whole day of class within school detention. Uh where I don't believe we have a salot lunch. We have lunch. Okay. So you have that. Dr. Anderson has that same. Yeah, we have a salunch. We do. I did not realize that. Okay. Well then that's not an issue. No, that's not an issue. We have lunch detention. We have lunch in elementary school. In school detention. Yeah. So I think we're closer than we actually think. Not Miss Beth. Mr. Gary. I like the idea of personally putting them

057in their locker. I really like that. When they came from Warren County and talked to us, one of the things they talked about was school culture and that not having the phones between classes, not having them in the lunch period, the kids were actually talking to each other and getting to know each other. True. And it said it changed. the kids actually began to come to them and thank them because they now were developing healthy relationships. And so if we still leave them out at lunch, if we still leave them out in the hallways, that's not going to develop because they're going to come out of the classroom. I mean, we're talking addiction here. Literally, we're talking addiction. I know because I put my phone, so I know what it is. Um, so they're going

058to come out of that classroom in a panic and doing whatever they have to between class to try to read that phone and at lunchtime they're going to try to catch up and it's going to defeat any purpose we have for climate change. So that's just my opinion. I wasn't laughing at you. I read an article yesterday made me laugh where Rutherford County said that uh the cell phone ban or the policies of banning the cell phones would increase violence in their schools because the kids had to talk to each other and they'd fight more. And I can guarantee you that is a misconception that when they have to get out from behind the phone or the keyboard, stuff's a lot different when the bell rings at 3:00 and you got to answer for it.

059Another thing that I noted at Warren County, um, with with the the current ban that they have on the phones, um, you know, practice schedules change. Uh, there are all sorts of announcements that sponsors for career and technical programs, that coaches, that band director, choir director, those are just some of our extracurriculars. um folks are able to send out messages to their team, their organization if something changes uh within their program for the day currently at the high school, but at Warren County, what they have is lots of just lots of intercom type announcements, whereas everybody in the building's getting those. Um I I don't think any of us would say that that's not a disruption. You know, it might apply to 10 or 15 kids, but everybody's getting it. Um but but it's just

060that's one of those things that goes along with it. 20 years ago, that's how we got announced. Well, whether whether it's our it's social media or our department sending out messages, that's still a distraction. Absolutely. On that part, don't tell that that we're causing just as much. Yeah. Prader, when you and I were in high school, Prader, you remember when you and I were in high school and Mr. Patch would say, "Uh, excuse me. I'm gonna be making an announcement at the end of the period. You get like that make an announcement on about five minutes before the period ended and say please excuse his interruption. I have an announce at the end of the period. Those were the good old Mr. Damewood to go ahead and get Mr. Parsley a wireless microphone in this

061office. But we hear all this crackling, you know, the do the majority, I don't know how I'm going to address it, of your students have backpacks. I would say half or maybe a little less. And again, that's just based upon observing students coming in on a day-to-day basis, have a backpack. We have 650 lockers in our building. Um, you know, we did have plenty of lockers for every student and then some. Of course, we we added some classrooms a few years ago and what were those locker spaces and uh those classrooms were needed, still are. Um, but what we had found back during that time is that that very few students used a locker. We would our home room teachers assign those at the start of the year and they they just I mean basically

062they collect trash and I mean a significant number of them a milk carton you know candy wrappers things like that. Now there are a few students that use those lockers. Um again we have 650 lockers in our building. At the start of the year, our home room teachers ask every student who would like to have a locker, who will use a locker. And this year we distributed less than 50 lockers. Um, so, you know, it's not, you know, we're making effort and really the school, the school's so big, if they have a class here, it's hard for them to get to their monsing with a locker. That's a perfect place to stuff. So, put all your work in there at the end of the year if you was missing the paper and it didn't get

063caught, you can go back to your locker and dig it out. One one thing, uh, well, a couple of things that that, um, come into play these days. Um, there are some classes for which you have a classroom set of textbooks. Student doesn't take a book home every day or doesn't take a a book to a locker every day. Um, now with our core classes, for most of them, you have a physical textbook. We also have classes that have online textbooks. And so when you consider all this, they're just not nearly as many things that you would put in a locker as there might have been, you know, when we were in school. See, I I would I would have loved for there to have been an off and out of sight unless allowed or

064needed for instruction. However, my kids apparently did well enough that they got done with their instruction early enough and all day every day I was threatening to come up to the school and take their phone from them because they What are you doing? Hey, what are you doing? Well, what are you doing? Well, I got done on my work. Yeah. I'm good to go. Don't bother me as I don't expect them to be bothering other students either with their phone. I think to another another aspect about middle school, they are required to keep everything in their locker, right? They are not allowed to carry backpacks around with them just, you know, like they do at Raider Academy and high school. So that locker is their home, so to speak, for the school days. So everything

065is required to be in there. with the the expanse of our building. Um there are some some hall changes, some students that might have a hall change from uh down near the end of the building where driver's education is located or ROC is located. If they're going up to the English department or the science department, it's a full five minute walk. um if you if you're going to the restroom, you're not going to get there in five minutes. Uh and you can't slow walk if you're going to get there. Um when you consider that if in the fact that our lockers are all in the generally the same area, um if a student's not walking that route, going to your locker, you know, makes the hall change that much longer. If y'all can remember, there

066was like Facebook all Chances are I'm gonna speak say the app probably the app or whatever. Depends on which app they're using. If they're using the one where they answer the questions and the you know they do it like a quiz on the board. Cahoots was is one that we use. Nothing else comes through at that time. So the app can block it out. But if they're just doing like a Google search or something like that, I'm sure it wouldn't block it out. Right. It depends on what they're using it for. That would be a that well The only way you can combat that, you can't combat it with this law or this policy. But the what the only way you can combat that is via the instruction that we're allowed to use. You'd basically

067say you can't use instruction like that. Because if we go as far as the law says we can go, which is often out of sight unless allowed or needed for instruction, that's as far as we can go with the policy of these devices. However, on the flip side, the only place you could go is into instruction to limit that opportunity. That's right. Am I right? But I think so. I don't think we can go that as far as saying a total ban based on what the law is now. Do you? No. No. And I think that's as far as we can go with this policy is just out of sight and off. I do too, Mr. Hansard. I agree with what you're saying. If if if the phone is not being used for some instructional

068purpose, uh some sort of app that might be instructional uh and the phone's just laying out on a desk and it's turned on. You're exactly right. I mean, that's a legitimate concern. Well, that something that yeah this year I think it goes back to enforcement again though in my opinion you know as a teacher for a long I was a teacher for 25 years before I became a principal this will be the year 39 end of year 39 for me and I think it all goes back to the teacher enforcing the rules in the classroom and um having those tough discussions with those as administrators and letting them know what our expectations are and that all shows through in the end when you test scores and when you get uh we can pull our discipline

069data and show you how our discipline is. All those things show in how we make sure our folks are doing what they're supposed to. So the consensus if we if we followed through with a with a policy kind of like we're we're talking about here with these aspects of out of sight. See what how that goes. Okay. Is that the way I'm kind of see how that goes. If we start seeing interruption, if we with increased instructional usage, right, then we might have to go back look at that. But we'd have to look at that through a different policy because this policy Well, I feel like too, like Dr. Pal alluded to earlier, once TSBA comes out with some kind of a something we can use to go by, until then, we're kind of going

070out on a limb. with it. Well, when you're saying off and out of sight, if they get them out between classes, is that Well, I I mean, that's what I do now. I don't know what I mean, if you they see them in the hallway with it open, they can use them. So, see, off and out of sight is different from from school to school. Do what now? See, if we say off and out of sight, they there's they have theirs between classes. Middle school's only one, so it's not consistent. We Well, but you're not necessarily You would be backing off a locker potentially, but you would only be you would only be off. You're still putting them in the back of the doors. When they're in class, she's talking about like between classes and

071during lunch. Yeah. So, I let them do Do you Do y'all utilize lockers? No, they don't. No, I didn't. Very rarely. Do you have issues at with with them having it out much? No, I haven't. I mean, and the high school has theirs at lunch. Our students are allowed to utilize their phones at lunch. They are in hallways. They are. And I can tell you there will be issues at middle school. There will be. There will be if they use them at lunch. There will be issues at lunch. just because I because because our students are not mature enough um to be able to they don't have them out as much. They have them in their backpack. Yeah. Often in their backpack, which is backpack, you know, I want to I want to agree, but

072but that's a ban. I mean, we're we're banning in one school and we're not others. That's we do one or Well, it's a matter of how we do it. If if we look at the way we read that just a second ago, it's a little give and take between the two of where they put them and how they do it. No, it's banan. They don't have there's any time during the day. If they don't have instructional time or they don't need them for instruction, then yes, it's a ban and it's supposed to be by law. But what I'm saying is it's is they're not completely banned at at high school and not No. So, we're going to have to That's what we're trying to do is develop a policy that would eliminate that. Right. And

073he's saying it won't work at middle school that they can't have them during between classes. Well, he just has them put them in their locker because they utilize their lockers there. Yeah. But they don't have them that they cannot use them in during during between classes. That's where we're going to have to get and decide to make a decision. We're going to have to make a decision in these grades if we're going to or not with this policy. Right. Right. And that's what I'm saying. That's why it's going to be so, you know, in my opinion, it's got to be consistent. I mean, the law, the law does say ban, but it don't say ban, right? You still have the opportunity and teacher and principal discretion to use them at certain times. Therefore, it's not

074a complete ban, but yes, because they can't get up and go to their locker and get their phone or they're to leave them there during the day, then you could call that a ban, but it's technically not because they still are allowed to go get them, use them for certain instructional periods that are needed. Well, that that's the same as No. Yeah, they can use their They the only think time they can use theirs is instructional. I don't think so, can they? Because they'd have to go get the magnets. They don't even use theirs for instruction. This is the reason why they did away with that because so many and they don't use them for instruction or anything. They don't use them for they can't they can't do away with that. They're changing theirs right

075now because law they cannot make policy to supersede law. They have to change it. They have to based upon this. So the the what what we observed is that the magnets are located at the entrances exits and and teachers do not have a magnet in their classroom. Now are there some students that might have one hidden away? I'm sure um but they're not able to use them in classrooms as as it is currently because this they don't have magnets to open the the the pouches quickly to do that. They don't have And back to your point on uh that being looked at upon as discrimination if the state's mandating it. The state's putting it in the law. That's true. We're out of that. Yeah, I understand. Mr. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Come on up, Mr.

076Ballard. Her talk. Consistency. Yeah. And I think that what they're doing in the middle school, you gotist policy because you're out there using them back in policy because it's easy to enforce because you violate and tools tools and apparatuses allow for that lockers. But I want to say one thing, Mr. Ballard. Um, ours isn't hard to enforce either because if it's out, it's taken. So, it's the same thing. It's just that we allow them to have them in the hallway. So, and in the lock in the cafeteria. You have to also remember I have locker access. They just don't use it. It sounds to me like enforcement is the key no matter what what the fault is. I agree. That's it's only the law is only as good if it's enforced. You gota you got

077to look at tools that are available to each school and find a common sense approach. Uh often out of sight is easy to say. We could consider your backpack or your pocket as a locker. I agree. Off and out of sight. Uh any one of those locations. Uh, one thing we'd have to do is part of this policy would be period unless it's instructional if that's the way we want to go unless it's used for instructional purposes. Period. Off and out of sight or we're taking it up. Does that mean hallway and lunch too? Way I would that's the way I would interpret it. It's pretty vague here, but I I that's the way I would lean based upon this vague policy. We would hope it's going to be specific. Is it? That's the way

078I would I would and that that's the best of both worlds. You kind of use whatever tools and mechanisms as principles you have in your school whether it be lockers, backpacks, pockets, whatever. Just here can't be seen or heard often out of sight during instructional time or the whole day. The whole day the whole day unless needed an instructional instructional ideas. That's that's the way Is that the way I'm following them? We threw so many things out. Excuse me. That is a consistent policy and it deals with the chance for kids to get to know each other which is real big for me and that's critically important the interaction parley you have any problem if we go to out of sight out of mind not using during lunch and or hallways I don't have a

079problem with the policy I have now. I don't have any problems from parents or students. Um I don't see that it's caused any extra uh disciplinary issues for me to allow the students to use those during class change and in the cafeteria. Uh if I had seen a big increase because I pull my discipline numbers at the end of every year and look to see if there's problem areas and and things like that. I have not. So I I I like the policy I currently have. It's easy for us to enforce. I have teachers that enforce it and I feel like I feel like it's not a problem for me, but I can see how you think it might be. I I still say that a lot of our cell phone issues aren't necessarily at

080school. They're in society and when they get home and they're on them for hours and hours and hours that we can't control. Uh I'm still back to my belief that it's important that we teach them appropriate use of the device. That's what I think. Uh, go ahead. Well, I I do think there's lots of merit to working with students to to hopefully teach them how to appropriately use their device uh once they're out of high school. Um, I think lots of us would readily admit that we we have a problem with it. I I'll say that I have a problem with it personally. I mean, you know, it's it's it is addictive. There's no question. Yeah. Um, you know, in a perfect world, students can have their phone, they can have it on, and there's

081never going to be any disruption unless it's something that really is important. But that's just not the world we live in. I think the purpose of of this policy and the law dealt with instruction. I do too. you know, and you're not dealing if you've got your under control in instructional time. That's part of the reason this was put in place. It wasn't to take phones away from students. It was to keep from disrupting instructional time. Well, I think that I'm sorry. I think it's important, too, that we have the mental health part in our school. We're very big on that. That's another issue with with society issues that we have that brought are brought into the school. We have a teen health council. We uh train every one of our students in mental health

082first aid the first semester of school. Uh we try to give them the tools they need. I I feel very strongly that it's my responsibility as an administrator to help these students learn or have the tools and the resources they need to become successful and productive citizens. So to me, banning this completely from the school day is not necessarily the answer to all the problems we're talking about today. Sorry I interrupted. I'm gonna I'm gonna ask Miss Garner a question because I've got a feeling I mean there's no way we're going to be even if we went with with this policy on the and deleting the top section and coming back through with kind of the consensus we've talked about. But is there any way that some of the things that we were presented in

083I think it was two maybe two ago on the uh safety committee from homeland security about yes it was after that and the the concerns about this because that is a lot that's behind this bill not just talking about instructional time interruption was also know about school safety during the day and the connection of the outside world because if I'm not mistaken I believe the anioch incident that happened at Antioch there was a lot of traffic between students inside of the building at the time and the actual person letting them know what was where to come how to get in and all that good stuff how to do that so there's there's more than just I mean you know I've got I've got a bunch of employees. I've got almost 400 myself in this community.

084No phones. My foremans as my principles would. That's it. But I don't catch nobody on their phones. Period. That's part of your learning because I respected what you said right off the very first when we come in here. I want to be as lenient as possible. But also, I'm not going to turn a blind eye to safety, and I know nobody in this room would. And the need to learn of self-control of I can't do that now or I can do that now and this and that. And that goes for administrators as well, being stern, steadfast. And so that that's kind of that's kind of where I'm at is I'm I'm a fan of the out of sight, out of mind. Use any tool you can all day long unless instruction calls for it. That's

085just me. Uh there's many of y'all that vote in this. That's where we are. But either which way, I I don't see how we can ever accomplish the wording. Uh complete ban. No. Well, there still that's not a complete ban. That's saying you can't take away complete. Yes, we'll have to take this out and I don't know how we're going to develop that wordage wordage wordage today. I don't know. But we could look at what we already have in place in policy. Um, and I don't know exactly. We we do have one because that's how middle school has their policy put in place because it is in our handbook. Um, it's under electronic devices and and so that might be a place to start. That's fine. But all of our policies come via vetted from

086PSBA and that's what we pay them for and that's what we do with and and you know once again you're you're putting that legal ramification on somebody else rather than us. And you know that goes from developing this whole first part even if we did take the Warren County making sure we got it right because we're going to have to send it to TSBA to see if they'll stand behind it and even vouch for it anyways and vet it and make sure it's okay. So, we're like I say there again, we're right back to the point of trying to recommend trying to recommend the TSBA to help us develop that policy with the recommendations we've come up with in this meeting. Is this a TSB attorney that said that Warren County definitely had to change

087theirs? And yes, that Jennifer White. Okay, that was Jennifer White and she is a staff attorney for TSBA. Well, I I just want to make one comment. Uh schools should not be jail cells and uh we've got to think in terms of that also. Uh phones are part of our society. Uh I mean even kids they know each other. They know each other through I mean we don't like it but they know each other through Tik Tok. They know each other through Snapchat. That is their way of communicating. And I don't think we're going to change that. That was my point. Yeah. I'm not sure we can as a school change that. No. And I and I am all for phones not being out during instructional time. Me too. And and I know that they

088can be a problem possibly for somebody bullying somebody, but if it's not out in the class time, that's going to limit it. And but we just, you know, it it's just hard to for me to to be that hard-nosed. And uh uh and I know it would be I know it would be better for everybody if we could just throw them out the door, but that's over with out in the work world too. But I mean even I mean it's sad but it happens every day. That's our communication tool now, right? And I just like in real estate otherwise I'm going to break mine's fingers. Well, just like they don't leave me alone during the school day. But for instance, in real estate, no one answers the phone. I'm the only I think I'm one

089of the few left that actually talks. It's sad that they text and u and it's the younger agents. They will not talk. You know, if you text them, you'll get an answer. If you call, nothing. And I don't know how, you know, I think it's too late to turn the turn anything around. Coffee County Board of Education policy 6.312 uh issued 69 of 2014. use of personal communication devices and electronic devices. Students may possess personal communication devices and personal electronic devices so long as such devices are turned off and stored in backpacks, purses or personal carryoffs. Such devices include but are not limited to wearable technology such as eyeglasses, rings, watches that have the capability to record, live stream or intact with wireless technology, cell phones, laptops, tablets, iPods. However, a principal design may grant

090permission for the use of these devices to assist with instruction and teachers are encouraged to integrate the devices into their coursework. Unauthorized use or improper storage of a device will result in confiscation until such time as it may be released. A student in violation of this policy is subject to disciplinary action. And that's in our handbook. That's our policy. That's that's how how we developed out of sight, out of mind all day unless they're used for instruction. That is our policy since 2014. So I think one thing you need to look at is is the what are your penalties going to be which some of you already have some of course but that may be something we need to look at to be consistent with the systemwide. If you get caught with it the first

091time, second time, third time, whatever it may be, you may be able to use some of these Warren County uh situations to develop that. But it looks to me like that that you can our policy now they're prohibited for the most part but you haven't really haven't set any guidelines for punishment I guess. Right. Right. That's where That's where I had I had wrote down I wrote on everything. Uh offenses, yeah, are out of out of sight, out of mind with whatever tool you can use to keep them out unless you need them for instruction. And then our offenses and our policy 6.312 is almost exactly what we were talking about or I just said that could interject between lines one through 19 of the Warren County policy. Yeah, our 6.312 and their 6.312, right?

092Insert this hour 6.312 into lines 1 through 18. Remove those from Warren County. Insert ours into it. And then we can turn this this discussion over to offenses. Right. Right. Am I Am I You're right. Yeah. So, that would require which obviously we know that Warren County has to have the two things, the two amendments. Anyways, we know that it really should be three. Yeah. The other one is there is three down here at the bottom. Robert, there's uh I'm still digging through paperwork. It's on the first page of the House bill at the bottom. That's that's that's what we kept referring to earlier. Referring to here. Yeah. Teachers may allow students. Yes. So there would be there would be two you need to amend this by two. You need to add that one into

093here. And we need to take Coffee County's existing 6.312 and interject it into the Warren County policy between lines one through 18. I reading that right? Did y'all catch that, Gary? Sorry. Sorry, buddy. Okay, you're you you made your motion. All right, but it needs to be amended to include a line of teachers may allow a student to use a device for educational purposes during instructional time. as well as taking the current Coffee County Board of Education 6.312 policy and transposing it onto this Warren County policy between lines 1 through 18. Yes, I have a a question. Okay. Um, one of the sentences in the current policy states something to the effect of integrating use of the device into instruction encourage. So I guess my question is how do we feel about that or do

094we want it to have approval of some sort, you know, not not just give free reign to pull them out in the classroom, so to speak? Remember this policy was developed when? No, actually 2011. That's a long time ago. No, but it's been reviewed every year. Yeah, but if it was at the time, Mr. And see, this is the words here. He's talking about teachers are encouraged to integrate the devices into their coursework. No. See, that's Yeah, that was when they were more or less a useful. All right. Now they're you're going to have to help me write this motion. So I could adopt Warren County's policy 6.312 adding in the changes provided by TSBA. Teachers may allow a student to use a device for educational purposes during instructional time. Students may use a device

095in emergency or manage their health. Students may use devices included in their IEP504 or individual learning plan striking out Warren counties 1 through and embedding Coffee Counties 6.312 minus Coffee County 6.312 minus if that's the consensus striking teachers are encouraed encouraged to integrate the devices into their coursework. Yeah, I think that would help. I think that'd be acceptable to to stri. Yeah, I think that's acceptable. Yes. What when you talk about emergencies, Melissa, we might need to define what those are. Um, that was one thing they said when they did the thing from Warren County was if kids during like a shooter type situation, if kids are trying to get on their phone, get a hold of their parents, they're not listening to instruction and that becomes a safety issue, right? So, we needed to

096find immediate immediate health issues is what they meant when Warren County he said immediate health issues. So, we probably need to define that as immediate when it comes to When it comes to the I think that was number two that we amended that yeah students may use a device in emergency or to manage their health. I think that took care of it. So I think the way the amendment was read I think that takes care of that emergency andor one one thing to consider is students that have a individual health plan generally there would be verbiage uh in their plan stating that they would use their device to it I think what Miss Beth's getting at and what we're leaning at is like a an emergency health or a health emergency you might have a

097heart attack and the kids walking by got their phone in their backpack. They need to dial 911 ASAP. I hope they can. I just do it. Yeah, I think that's what that's but without stating it, it it still leaves it open. Okay, we've got a shooter situation. Every kid's getting them out of their backpack and calling mama. And regardless of how hard we try to preach things that we've heard about those situations and it's just like you know I think we were talking one day about how you get the kids out of the high school if something went down and this and that and contain them to you know who you got what you got and all this with that parking lot full of cars. You're not stopping them. There's going to be people gone.

098You you're They're going to call run. We're looking at nothing in between classes cafeteria. That's the way the current policy reads. The the current policy reads as such. So if that's unless we're changing that. Well, we struck teachers are encouraged to integrate the devices into their coursework. We struck that out. You're to that point, right? Okay. So, now we're to the point of if y'all want to do anything about that. What does it say about that, Robert? Read it one more time. Nothing. It just says that they uh out of sight and out of mind. Okay. Unless the teacher integrates it into instruction in instruction. Unauthorized use or improper storage of the device will result in compensation or confiscation until such time as it may be released. A student violation of this policy is subject

099to disciplinary action. What about their smartphones? I mean their smartwatches. They're listed in here too. cell phones, laptops, tablets, iPods. Well, it doesn't say nothing about watches. Well, yeah, it does. Or watches that have the capability to record, live stream, or interact with wireless technology. Okay. So, those have to go ahead and address the policy and then we can tweet that. Set your set your offenses up a little bit later on. starts. Well, if we take this policy, we're going to take their offenses. Okay. But if we're going to readress this top section of our old policy, we can also address offenses then as well. Okay. If we want to lighten up, stiffen up. But what I understand if we accept it now, it's banning basically, right? So that's something you got to consider. Hey

100Freda, your policy from 2011 banned them. That's what I'm saying. That's what we're saying. We want to amend that. See, on this one though, you got We already got a paint the man. Like the second offense is we don't have an after school detention. Well, this does, right? The state law does not give you the ability. I know. That's what I'm saying. State law does not give you the ability to allow them to have them in between classes and at lunch. It doesn't, but it does. No. No. Not instruction. Right. I agree. I agree. I I think when you look at the the current policy that's it's still not been approved. Correct. But it's we expect that to No, this what you're looking at right there is the state law. The House bill, if you

101come right down, it's 49. It's the amendment to 496-3. That is state law. The state law. I The way I interpret this, I think you're correct. Um it it does not give permission to allow students to use them between classes. If it doesn't get permission where we weren't why are we discussing it? Yeah. Yeah. Why even discuss it if we can't do it? That's right. I don't I didn't think we was and what would they pass tomorrow? I didn't think I didn't think we was discussing if we was going to allow that. Is there an expectation that this bill will be clarified that there'll be more detail in it anytime soon or is this what it's going to till next year? the legislature. So really really there's no point. Wait a minute. Who is our

102legislative representative? Who is our legislative delegate? Send me down there. I'll take your own. I think you're supposed to be going anyways. H you the Yeah, you're the legislative liaison for the board. No, all I get is is seminars. They send me what's happening. They don't ask my opinion. I think if you wanted I think if you wanted to address Mr. Parsley, Miss Celler's concern, you could put a comment in there something similar to of principal discretion of where it could be where cell phones could be. We can't do it because if I was saying the law didn't provide for it. That's what we're saying. The unless they change it. Just look this just looking over real quickly. The only thing I see in the uh offenses guideline would be in second offense basically they're

103talking about assigned either two days of of after school detention or one week lunch detention. We have lunch detention. The same thing at the bottom of that they have two days of ASD EL6 or one week in lunch. change it ASD to is well yeah ISSD really doesn't come in until the third offense that's in school suspension uh the only thing I see right now is number two look at those if you've got those where you is the in school is the after school detention or the I don't know what EL6 is there's page two so basically all we are are going to be allowed to do is come up with the offense you you know consequences consequences for it because the state is determining that we can't use them at all during the day

104except for except for instruction after school which we don't have. Yeah. Yeah, you're right. I mean pretty much they they tied your hands on that. So we don't you know we can't get we didn't do but it doesn't say the state says the state doesn't say they can't have them in their pocket or in their backpack. The state doesn't say that. state just says they must stay there unless they're instructed. Also, I might want to look at when you think I'm sorry. Well, one thing one thing I want to make. Hey guys, we're and girls, we're getting a policy started here. This is this can be still this we can still meet de deadlines guidelines. We can still have imp implementation. We can still make changes as we find out more information. We are still

105waiting on some more TSBA questions and answers and things of that nature. We can get by with with uh waving a second reading once the board looks to get this implemented before the first of the year so that we can roll. What we say today is not necessarily what it's going to kick off with come first of school year next year. I think the the Tennessee school board and the law doesn't put in here what your offensive guidelines will be. So that's something no it just says you must have an so our policy is really up to date that except for that except for that part about encouraging use of them in the classroom and you might you might want to look at in your in your offenses. Um yeah, the offenses, but your agreement

106to rules and policy that was in Warren counties. Yes, sir. Uh that's pretty good about painting a definite pictures. Look, don't abuse this. Yeah. And we'll allow you. You know what I'm saying? It's it's just good jargon. uh uh agreeing to the offenses if you're caught and in violation of them. Uh those are pretty good. Uh examination of cell phones is a new thing that if a school principal in in the Warren County starting at line 19, I'm not sure we have all the pages. We're missing page two. We're missing some of what you have. We're missing page two. Orange County Board of Education. It was just two. Yeah, we just had this. Oh, sorry. It might not have run the back side. It didn't run the backside. It's okay. Yeah, we don't have all.

107I can pass it around. But the examination of cell phones, electronic communication devices, if the school principal or his or her design has reasonable suspicion that a cell phone personal communication device or camera is used in violation of this policy, the principal andor its administrator may review the history of a cell phone. So that's illegal. Yeah. Yeah. Mr. Mr. That's the one that's pulling out. 21. So 19 19 through 26 was illegal. That got took out. See, they're going to have to revis. No, that's the second page there. See that one? So, Mr. Chair, would it be acceptable for the three of us to get together and and talk about what those consequences need to be and maybe just bring them to you all? I think I think uh how about we how about we

108we are going to have to we are going to have to cut that out. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Which one? So, you took mine and I took yours. 20 through 26. You gave me yours. No, I wrote on yours. On yours, too. He's writing on everybody's. Yeah. But I and I know but on this we got to the point that we were at offensive. Yeah. But we've now just realized that 19 through 26 they're going to have to be they got to be gone as well. Right. And it also needs to have added in here that one sentence that um in the event of emergency that all call will got that on number the second number two amendment. Okay. So, there's four amendments. There's one motion and four amendments so far. Five. This just made five.

109Striking line uh 23 19 through 26. Yes. Striking those from the policy. Uh made number five. Amendment number five. Jesus. Okay, I'm I'm getting confused again. When you go back to this, it says except as provided in subdivisions prohibits a student from using a wireless communication device during instructional time. B 2 through 4. So you start at B, which is here, right? And items two through four. But it just says instructional time. It doesn't say the school day, right? So that means they cut the school day out. allowed to instructional time. You're allowed to in the event of emergency or to manage the student's health. And then number four, but it says prohibits a student from using it during instructional time. It doesn't say anything about prohibiting a student from using it at lunch. No,

110I think Yeah, but I think they're kind of clouding I think they're kind of clouding which which they do that on purpose. right here. If you look at at the House Bill 132, line what? H House Bill Oh, yeah. I got it. Right down there at the bottom, it says each local board of education and each public charter school governing body shall adopt and implement a wireless communication device policy that one except is providing in subdivisions B2 through 4 prohibits the student from using a wireless communication device during instructional time. Doesn't say during the school day. Well, that when is it what is the definition of instructional? Well, that's what we'll have to find out because we're going to have flag. That's right. If this is not If it says during the school day, we

111need a definition. We need to define instruction. Yeah. Instructional time. And it's and it says authorizes a teacher to allow student to to use it, you know, during instructional time. And it but it's talking about instructional time. What's instructional time? Is that from 7:45 to 3:15 or is it just during class time? It's not instructional time will be class time to me. That's what I'm think but I don't know what the I mean I was thinking that we had it made because they decided for us but I'm not sure now because it just says instructional time. So I'll work this up. I'll just work this up. They can send me their offenses and the next time. Let's let's get a let's get this let's get this closed out if we're going to and then develop

112offenses. Yes. Research instructional time. Yes. Look at the top section again. But at least we'll have one document instead of a whole stack of stuff here. So, yes. You would not be on uh May. You're talking about Monday night. Tuesday. Yeah. Next week. No. No. I don't think we would have to meet again before that. Yeah, we would have to meet again before that. Wave the second reading. Yeah. In time for school, you'd be able to get it in pamphlets and whatever and all that. Our policy was is it was more strict than this. No, that's if you if that's if you're interpreting the instructional time as just while the teacher speak, right? So, it may not be it may be we may be already in line attorney or whatever what that time is. Yeah.

113because it doesite the school. If that's the way we're going to consider that instructional time, I want everybody in this room to please at least listen to some of the things I think you ought to know about. Well, I I've got some things, too, because you know, when you watch when people do presentations, they pull sources from where they want to show what they are trying to prove. Correct. So, I've been researching it and I've got some things that need to be shown as well that don't just necessarily skew it that way. Do you know what I'm saying? When it comes to safety, I'm talking about facts, too. I'm talking about safety. I I mean, I'm too I understand. But, but I I know where you're going with that. Not necessarily, but but as as

114respectfully as I can, I really want y'all to listen to some of these safety things because the communication is there and happens all the time. I agree with you. And and and one thing I have learned since I've I have been in that and been in law enforcement for 25 years in this county, uh it's not a matter of if, it's when. That's when you're right. And I want to be as free as I can and make this as streamline as possible, easier for you guys to be able to handle because y'all two are the ones that are going to catch bad. And I know that and I'm man enough sit here in front of everybody and say that. Well, I want to do the right thing. I know. And somehow we got we got

115to do more than just create a policy. We got to figure out a way to back y'all as well through this because it's going to hit the fan when it does. Yeah. And uh that's the that's the bottom line. And we we this is not going this is not something we can do. I mean we've been here two hours. This is not something we can even do in two hours. We have all diligently sit here and this is something we're taking serious and we need to continue to do that regardless of how bad. I'd like for you to have a policy from the policy committee. I mean, you're always welcome to move forward with an agenda item and do something else, but I think I think we're on the right path. I think if if

116if we were to the point we've got to with policy with amending and five amendments, we've got a pretty good document. If we can get that tied together, shoot back to everybody really quickly. Then we can start working on the offenses, start talking about the different things, stuff of that nature. Maybe get if you could get the Homeland Security guy that that had all that. even even if it was just something he could type up in an email that look folks I'll come talk to you if you want me to or hear this side of things we might can move a little faster than because I don't think nobody in this room has an issue with hey let's call it one day and just talk about it we won't we won't I think we need

117to contact the district attorney too about confiscation because I've been told we can't keep them overnight well that was my question we need to find out uh if you put in your policy it whether if you can keep them whether you want to keep it overnight for the first offense, a week for the second offense, six months for the third offense, whatever. A little bit more. Yeah, I I've been he called Craig Northcot called at one point and told me that I was not allowed to do that. We can do that, too. We can I can help you with that one. Okay. Can you find out, Robert? And uh we'll uh we'll get that going. Thank you as well. So, if we can roll an original or start of a document out, all right, I'll

118chop it up and I'll email it, get it to everybody. We'll start working on those things. Get some information from that guy, the other [Laughter] guy. We'll forward all that to everybody and then we'll be ready to put something together. That sound George, you've been awful quiet. Is there anything you want to say? I think Jennifer, didn't you? It's okay. I'll answer to both. You didn't call that was Jennifer. He knows. I had to It took me a minute as uh on your on your offenses. Uh I don't mind giving a call to Jennifer or being one at TSBA. Uh I'll see Chuck next week. We can ask him about the compensation part of I'd like to know just definitively instructional time. North Cot too. Okay. And find out what they what the meaning of

119instructional time the definition of that Dr. Pal. Yeah. And that if you'll get one I know. The legislature wrote this policy to put it off on school system. That's right. Make it up as a Oh, we can surely we can Google definition instruction. Um Mr. Chair, Mr. instruction time would be classroom time. That's what I think but I don't know for sure in the lecture room. Mr. Chair, there is something listed in here. Yes, it says except as provided in subdivisions B2 through 4. So if we can figure out how to find where subdivision B2 through 4 is, it may give us all of that. No, no, no. except as provided in subdivision B2 through 4. Prohibits a student from using a wireless communication device during instructional time. So, this shows where when they're allowed

120to use it, though, the B two through four. So, if they're not allowed to use it, it would state it if they were allowed to use it in the lunchroom and any other time. Yeah. But I'm just thinking if we can figure out what B2 through 4 is. Well, that'd be two through four. Section B, then two, three, and four. Flip it over. We don't have a four on the back. Yeah, there is right here. Mine doesn't have a four. Four. Yeah. Four is permits a student to use a wireless communication device during instructional time if the student uses the wireless. Okay. So, those are the exceptions included in the stud students a device. So, we got a document We've got five amendments. Motion is on the floor. Uh we can clear that up. We

121can get a document created, get that to everybody, a copy of the law as well for comparison, and then any and all information that we can get from all these other people, share amongst each other. And really, we just need to know if we need to make some core changes and the offenses. And we can do that pretty quick quickly. I think we can still get back on track, Mr. Chairman. So, anybody's got anything else to say? Speak now if ever hold your peace. We got a motion on the floor. And what does the motion say? Oh my god. I mean, really, because it Oh my god. because I think it's banning it. You you want your draw your And it's banned. We draw your motion and it's banned and go with policy. it banned.

122This new policy is banned. We got it. If we It's not until we vote on it. We got it. M Mr. Mr. Okay. He's going to draw his motion and we're going to go a consensus on this policy. So, we're going to stop, but we're going to you're going Okay, I'm gonna listen to this. All right. You ready? Pardon? You ready? You want to withdraw your motion or we ready to vote or what? I'm ready to go eat supper. That sounds good to me because these other 16 items on the agenda are now officially scrapped. Yeah. For today. So, if we withdraw the motion, then that will Let's build one. Let's build one as we described. If we withdraw the motion, let's build one as we described. Gather the other information. see if we want

123to change it or tweak it any other way and then pass it. Same thing. It's the same as a I agree too. All right. So, motion has been withdrawn. Uh, agenda item one is now complete. I'm not sure if I can legally do this or how to do it, but either which way I'm going to intervene and interrupt and break the rules, break the laws, whatever. It's been a little over two hours. Uh, I would like to uh somebody to move to postpone the rest of the agenda for today. Absolutely. I'll second it. Just one second though. The AI policy has to be turned into the state by July 1st. June meeting. Huh? So we by July 1st. You mean A1? So, we have to get done at the next meeting. We have May and

124June. Huh? May and June. We got May meeting in June. We got a June meeting. Yeah. Wait, we'll wave it. We'll wave the second on it. We'll wave the second on it as well. Does that sound? Yes. Is it? Uh if y'all want to knock it out. I mean, how long it take you? AI. Yeah, those actually the policy is there. I mean, it's not the AI policy itself isn't that complicated. You just got to meet the requirements of the PSBA already. Y'all want to knock this out real quick so that he can get it on his agenda? Why don't we set a May agenda? had made aid said a may agenda. Okay, everybody's saying everybody's I've done messed all this up beyond law and everything else this agenda and how this went today. So,

125whatever. Sue me. So, motion to postpone the rest of the agenda. Yes. Who did that? Mr. Mr. Cordell. It was second. I'll second that. All right. Hey, Miss Jones. You forward or against it? For what? Oh, yes. Second, Mr. Cordell. Miss Y. Yes, Mr. Parsley. Yes, Jimmy. I Sorry, I'm I'm done delusional. Miss Parsley. I All right, passes and I'll vote. I That is seven to Yeah, nothing. We're good to go.