001tracks were like this big. They were like that big. broke the internet evidently. So, oh, we can Okay, we'll wait. You'll be relying on my superior hearing. We can wait. It's fine. I've got my hearing aids in and right now I can hear everything pretty well. Yeah. Check. One, two. Testing. One, two, three. Two. Test. Test. Is everyone good? All right, I got it. It is 7:09 p.m. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. All right, on to roll call. Um, Mr. Mrs. Donald Ber here. Mr. Bower here. Mrs. Gray here. Mrs. Walsh here. Mr. Kushner here. All right, on to um item three. Um um I would like to recommend to accept Latoya Latoya Dberger as treasur for this board meeting. I'll second it. Any discussion? On to uh roll call. Um Mr. Kushner.
002I uh Mrs. Gleberger. Yes. I Mr. Bower. I Mrs. uh Gray. I Mrs. Walsh. I. All right. Motion passes. On to B. Adoption of meeting agenda. So moved. Um I will second. Onto a discussion. One second. Just if we could with Like I said last time, I guess with me being in treasure pro team, if I could have just a few moments in between um to catch up. So you were first, Mr. Bower for the adoption of the um agenda. It was Mrs. Gray and I thank you. Yep. Okay. Yep. It's okay. Any discussion? Roll call. All right. On to roll call, please. Mr. Kersner. Hi, Mr. Bower. Hi, Miss Gray. Hi, Miss Walsh. I Mr. Alber. Motion passes. All right, on to C one, board policy review. And we have two policies here. Um,
003you want to start with IGB. Okay. So, IGBALA um originally OSBA sent us two sample policies asking us to choose one. Uh there was an update in June that we had not noticed prior to the last meeting. Uh so there wasn't any more choose one or two. Uh it was their current sample policy and that's what attached is attached to the board meeting tonight. going to vote on each one separately. Yes. Correct. So I motion I'll make the motion to approve policy member I GB LA as presented. Okay. Um so the first is uh you made the motion, Miss Gray. Yes. Okay. So we need the second. Okay. Do I have a second? I have a second. On to discussion hearing. None. On to roll call. Oh, sorry. I want to look at this real
004quick. Which one she There were two versions, right? Or was there just the one? This one had just the one and this is the one from the June update. Correct. Um, superintendent. Correct. Mrs. as well are correct that originally there were two options there were were recommended select one or the other uh in the June update this is the model policy that they brought forward so there there wasn't any um option choice in this particular one and this is just taking what those what we were we discovered at the last meeting those changes correct Yes, that's correct. Okay, just give me a minute. I just want to make sure I get comment about the update from the June. So, you guys can keep talking, but I I do need a minute to finish this note.
005Thank you. Is there any other discussion on this? Okay, thank you. We are on subject CO, correct? No, I'm sorry. No, we're on um we are on GDLA. We're on the the first one promoting parental involvement policy. It's listed together with his cell phone policy, but we're separating him out separately. Thank you. I got totally so lost. Okay. All right. Thank you. Did we any of these policies in our parental advisory committee this particular policy at any point? No, we have not as with the for that the I mean we can definitely reevaluate now that um when it came up in our June meeting um this was after um this review or request to review was after I believe so we can definitely is that correct Miss Gray? Yes, that is correct. It was after
006our parent meeting. So what we can do, we can definitely, you know, be in compliance with the July 1 and if the my colleagues would be open to it during our parent advisory uh at that as a as a conversation um in our July meeting if we need to make any or hear any additional recommendations, but that is that is something that could be discussed. Um so we have Mr. Morer here tonight and and Mr. is going to be working with us on policy. Mike, do you have anything you'd like to comment on this first policy? I do. On this first policy, I have just one minor recommendation that's on the third page. It's in a section that is entitled concerns and appeals procedure. There are two or there are multiple paragraphs. In the second
007paragraph, it starts with a parent may appeal a principal or assistant principal's decision. This is again a minor recommendation for this first policy. It's at the end of the paragraph. The last sentence reads, "If the superintendent does not affirm the decision, they determine the resolution to the parents concern. My concern with that is that an attempt to be genderneutral with the pronoun they, it might produce some ambiguity with who the they refers to. So, it's a pronoun and anticedent issue. What I recommend is doing what has been done throughout this document, especially as you see in the next paragraph. Whenever a case of ambiguity comes up, they just restate who's being talked about. So in this case, the sentence would read, "If the superintendent does not affirm the decision, the superintendent determines the resolution to
008the parents concern." That would make it clear and clear up any confusion because in the previous sentence, principal and assistant principal were also mentioned. So someone may think that that the word they refers back to one of those two positions. And where exactly are you at again? So on the third page it begins with the section is concerns and appeals procedure. There's a first paragraph then a second paragraph. The second paragraph begins a may a parent may appeal a principal or assistance assistant principal's decision to the superintendent. What I'm focusing on is the end of that paragraph. The sentence is, if the superintendent does not affirm the decision, they determine the resolution to the parents concern. I'm recommending the sentence to read, if the superintendent does not affirm the decision, the superintendent determines the resolution
009to the parents concern. That would just clear up any ambiguity with that pronoun. They I will modify my motion to include that change. One one further point of clarification since we're talking about this a little specifically. Most of the time I think in our language if it says superintendent it says superintendent or his or her designate depending on the situation. Um if it's appropriate to swap that out because I might not always be the person directly involved with it. A lot of times people are doing investigations on my behalf. That is a good point. I would modify it to that. Okay, then I'll second that. I just have to give me a second so I can capture what Mike stated. I have part of the J and I have the two modifications to the motion
010now reading that they to superintendent and then the other one was the to superintendent or designate. Correct. Thank you. Yeah, I'm sure not I'm still not exactly sure where you're talking about. I know it's in the concerns and appeals. Correct. Sorry. If I understand correctly, um, bottom of page, uh, bottom of third page, concerns appeals, second paragraph, the superintendent is asking that we change it to if the superintendent insert or designate does not affirm. Is that correct? Um, so I was actually looking at the the very first line of that same paragraph. A parent may appeal the principal or assistant principal's decision to the superintendent. I say or designate at that point because then it goes on in that same paragraph if the parent appeals the principles or assistant the superintendent designate. I I think
011this is just things that they they left out of the language and in the edit that should have been there. to clarify from the start. I think the rest of it is fine after that. Yeah. You don't want Yeah. Good. Because I was getting hung up on that. No, you don't want designate in the final sentence where it says no because you have to affirm. Correct. Okay. Thank you. Yes. I got it. All right. I was getting concerned about that. Thank you. Um and then the third sentence is fine the way it reads. Correct. If a parent appeals to superintendent's decision, the only change in that is instead of saying they, it says the superintendent determines to clarify who the decision maker is. That's on the final sentence in the second paragraph. In that final
012sentence. Okay. Thank you. And what paragraph was that? I just want to make sure I have it in the notes, please. Yep. It's um paragraph two under concerns and appeals procedure. concerns and what was the other part? I'm sorry. Concerns and appeals procedure. Um, I'm a little concerned about the first paragraph, the last sentence. Anonymous. Oh, I'm sorry. Not ready. Not really. It was okay. Go ahead, Kathy. It's okay. When you're ready, let me know. No, I have enough so I can pause. I'll just need a minute. So, I was actually going to go through here to make sure I'm matching up what I've typed. So, go ahead and I'll just grab your comment. You can go ahead. It's okay. Okay. Uh, the anonymous written concerns may not be investigated. So, is there a reason
013why we would a lot of parents and we don't want to let anybody know because who they are because they're afraid of retaliation. So if it's a anonymous written complaint kind of like a whistleblower thing I would think we would and it says may it doesn't say shall says are we picking and choosing I don't know I think that should probably come out. Mr. Moritzer, do you mind commenting on that? Um what section are you referring to please? Um the first paragraph under concerns and appeals procedure that's I guess page three. We don't have page numbers but it would be sheet three. Um the very last sentence of the first paragraph. So that line anonymous written concerns may not be investigated is in alignment with other policies that the board already has including public complaints
014about personnel. anonymous complaints are not investigated in other parts of the policy. If you're going to do that, you probably want to look at a lot of other policies that disallow anonymous complaints. And in this case, we want to encourage people to identify themselves so that an investigation can be properly conducted. So my question is, how does that align with our whistleblower policies? Well, whistleblower policies would align with that because the whistleblower policy protects people who are identified. Whistleblower has no point in identifying or protecting people who are anonymous policies is to protect those that identify themselves. Yes. Doesn't our whistleblower policy allow for anonymous complaints? I'm not aware of that. I know that another policy, particularly the policy um about public complaints about school personnel disallow anonymous complaints. They are not investigated. And don't
015we have a hotline for whistleblower complaints that say you can remain anonymous? I'm not aware of that. I believe we do. Is it on our website? Yeah. So, it says students and adults can utilize I believe we have a tip line in our in our manual for anonymous reporting of threats to student safety or other issues. I'm sorry that I'm on the wrong screen. See if I can catch what you just said. There is in this language an opportunity to allow for anonymous concerns to be investigated, anonymous written concerns. The operative word being may. Anonymous written concerns may not be investigated. So if you want to hedge your bets a little bit, that would be the way to keep that language. I think we're talk Are you talking about the safer Ohio school tip line?
016Yes. Okay. So that I believe is through the Ohio Department of Yeah. Education Workforce. So then the question becomes, if the Ohio Department of Education workforce reached down to us with something that maybe they validated or they have a concern, we're putting in policy that we can't act on that. Mr. Smatters, this is unfortunately happened a few times and every time they call me, they give me the information, the names, phone numbers so I can contact and investigate. So far I haven't received an anonymous tips. Okay. So I I still I believe I would move that we I move that we remove the anonymous written concerns may be may not be investigated language. Mashkin Okay. You said what your motion is to remove that the language anonymous written concerns may be may not be investigated
017be removed from the policy I B L A that we're considering right now. Do I have a second? A second. I I just want to throw a s an example out. So let's say you an anonymous complaint from a student that is afraid of retaliation, etc. or anyone. And with the complaint is ample photo evidence, um, everything you need to know that it's valid, right? You can look at it in five minutes, you can go into a room or whatever, and you can know that this happened. Or maybe it's a video of the event, and we're just saying, "Hey, you don't want to put your name out there." So, we actually just can't do anything about it. We're actually tying our own hands to where we could have something somebody did really bad and we're
018putting down a policy that says, "Yep, sorry. We can't act against that bad actor." I think that's I think that causes me concern. Well, number one, I don't think you would ever get everything you need to know in the investigation and there's no way to follow up with an anonymous person. The other thing is other things that could happen. There could be wild false claims made against people. There's no way to follow up the person. There's no way to get detailed information. And people have rights that they can't just be accused of of things without a fair shake and due process. That's that's the other side of that same point. Yeah. Yeah. I understand that that I'm Yeah, there are certainly I think there would certainly be scenarios where there would be enough information provided
019um that we would know uh something was wrong. A video would be a great example. I I don't know how a video of an event if it was okay. So, let's just say this. Let's just say someone posts a video of an event anonymously on Facebook and we can see the entire event now and staff is involved and there's something bad, we're saying, "Oh, sorry. Nothing to see here till somebody comes forward with a name." And I guess that would then in that in that case, could anyone grab that piece of evidence and and claim it as their own? The way I read it, it says may. So to me, it says anonymous written concerns may not be investigated, which still allows us the opportunity to investigate if we if it's deemed necessary. That's how
020I read it. The way I see with um if it's a wild accusation and there's no evidence, then that investigation would be pretty short, like minutes, you know, like, okay, there's no evidence, there's no way we can investigate this. I think John's example where Ample evidence is why it should be that you investigate it. That the may means you could have evidence and decide I don't want to investigate it. We don't have the time. We don't have the resources. It doesn't seem that important. What I'm seeing on the face, but when you dig deeper, it might be. So, if there's somebody making wild accusations with no evidence, that's going to be a very, very short investigation because there's nothing to investigate if they don't have any evidence presented with their accusation. I guess we're saying
021that the may the may not is giving us discretion since it doesn't say shall not. We're saying may not gives us discretion. Yeah. I mean, I just looked up like the legal term in in policies and things like it generally signifies permission or discretion. So, it's not taking it away. It's just the facts like you said in that case if there is this video as you mentioned on Facebook anonymously of an event dealing with the school. It's clear we can see it that could be fall under the M. That's a great example of where that would then fall under how the policies been shared from our policy provider. making claims about it's like right you're notitting yourself spending your whole their whole time doing nothing but investigations of claims. You're You're not committing yourself to
022investigate everything you hear. All right. Any other discussion? Give me a minute. Okay. And I think Mr. Morer, but I just need a minute though. So before you start, can you let me just finish this one real quick? Thank you, sir. Miss Gray, can you just repeat a little bit of what you just stated though, just so I make sure I have everything because I Yes, ma'am. Just that it if this protects us from not having to investigate every little accusation that's out there because they could spend the administration could spend their whole days doing nothing but investigations. Thank you. Okay. I I think I have a final point that may cement the board's discussion about the word may. It does seem very purposeful, especially in the sense of may or may not be investigated.
023Uh substitute the word will. How much would it change? It would change significantly, wouldn't it? will not be investigated. That would clear it up completely. That's not what the board intends to do, I believe. So, the word may is important. I think it means may or may not. But the word may by itself also means or not. May or may not. Thank you. Okay, I'm ready. So, at this point, we just finished discussion. Just make sure didn't miss anything for Mrs. Walsh's motion. Her motion was to remove the language of the um which is in the on the third page under the concerns and appeals first paragraph last sentence that reads anonymous written concerns may not be investigated and Mr. was second on that. That's correct. Roll call, please. Okay. One second. Let me get
024my roll call ready to go. Was the motion to remove? Oh, okay. May not be investigated. Concerns may not. Okay. Give me a second, please. Sure. The motion was just to res remove that one sentence. Correct. That's what I had. Right. I'm just And with the other changes, there's a motion also. Yeah. That was in the first one. So after we vote on this motion, we'll go back to um Mrs. Gray's motion. Um so I understand. Um were you saying that we could change the language to may or may not? You could elect to do that, but using the word may would cover that as well because it's a possibility. Right. But when you cut, what I'm seeing legally is when you copy it, when you couple it with not, it sign it signifies a
025prohibition. You may not. So, if we don't put may or may not, then we're saying you can't do it. If you want to add that, that would be advisable. That would be that would allow for either contingency. So, um, let me look back at the motion, please. Um, I can reread it. Uh, Mr. Kushner. Thank you. No problem. The motion from Miss uh Walsh was to remove the language um in that first the last the first paragraphs under concerns and appeals procedures which reads anonymous written concerns may not be investigated. So that is the motion that we were currently discussing and was ready to do roll call for. Okay. So if we want to vote on that motion, I would I would move for better clarity of language than that, which would be um anonymous
026written concerns may or may not be investigated at the discretion of the district. So Mrs. Walsh would need to modify that. Correct. Yes. Unless Mr. Kersner would like to do another motion. Okay. So, well, let me ask Mr. Kersner before before I make that change. How do you make the decision on may or may not? Who makes that decision? What is the criteria? I I don't know how that change would be beneficial. If you don't make that decision distinction, then um I guess you take away all discretion and someone could make um let's read the entire thing. A parent may file a written concern with a school principal. Um anonymous written concerns may not be investigated. So um and my recommendation is to just remove that that sentence. If if we read further down in
027that paragraph, if I might say, the last paragraph says, "The board directs the superintendent designate to develop procedures to ensure prompt and fair attention to written concerns about this policy." So, if we have the May language, then it sounds as if we could, you know, we'll we'll work with the superintendent so the procedures what that looks like and see what he has and the district notifies the parent. But if you're speaking just strictly anonymously, but it says nay, we still have this policy grants the opportunity to do that, especially in the um example Mr. Kersner provided. So, I'm just having a little trouble understanding what you're saying here. It says the slice doesn't need to develop procedures to ensure prompt and fair attention to rank concerns about this policy. The closed caption is not doing
028very well. So, state, please. I just read the last paragraph in the policy um under concerns and appeals that very the first sentence of the last paragraph. Yeah. Go ahead, Mr. Morris. I'd like to point out in the same paragraph that you were just referring to, it makes many mentions of who to whom a parent makes an appeal. So the parent is vital in this. How does a superintendent how can the superintendent be responsible or responsive to the parenting if the parent is not identified? That's what this entire section is about. If the parent is not identified, that makes sense to me. I I can get that kind of but No, but so here's here's the here's the counter to that. So if you get a lousy complaint with no merit and no name, you
029got no worries. But if it's a credible complaint and you can see what you need to see, then it's up to us how we proceed because the parent cannot go any further in any of the steps. So, we could still gain vital information through a written complaint. Um, and we could still if we chose to if we saw something I mean, I don't want to tie anybody's hands. We could get a complaint that Mr. Group and Mr. Smathers and everybody wants to act on, right? And we don't know who it is. And that's fine because the parent has no say now. But we still don't have to throw it in the circular file just because they were worried about um and it's very legitimate that you could be worried about retaliation against your child whether
030or not we have a whistleblower or not. You know how many whistleblowers get fired after they blow the whistle, right? So, you know, there there is a reason that people would possibly do anonymous. But the flip side of that is, hey, we got no recourse. So, it's totally in our fortune. True. So it's it's kind of like no harm if they it's no harm to us if they do anonymous and they have no rights to go forward. So your concern is on the end of the sentence about being investigated, right? Like we see something totally um you know you see Jack go out and burn a but light a bus on fire and somebody witnesses but they're afraid of Jack and they give us the video and we go h sorry we can't investigate Jack
031because we wrote this in policy and we don't know who gave us that video. But that's not what we're talking about. We're talking about parents parents rights. Yeah. that entire section with their student or their child. We're not talking about other types of incidences. Okay. Right. The communities bringing up. Yeah, that was the same point I was going to make. Liby, this is this whole section of policy is parent involvement. And if you look at where we're talking concerns and appeal, if you look at the first three paragraphs, a parent may file, a parent may appeal, a parent may appeal. If it's anonymous, we don't even know if it's a parent. We don't know if it's a resident. We don't know if it's student. We don't know if it's just somebody out there in the
032ether trying to cause issues. So, I I think if if we're talking about parent involvement and parent appeals, we probably need to know it's a parent. Well, you've got you've got bullying and intimidation in here. So, there's an example where um physical injury psychological trauma, bully or intimidation where um again I do think in my yes my example was not a good one but if you take it against that you see bullying and intimidation and um I don't know I just again if someone does it anonymously they've got no fallback in any of this but at the same time we do have whistleblower um a person could put a whistleblower complaint in through the OD that would fall just by the nature of the complaint under this particular policy. So again, I think I think
033it's just a good door to keep open. That's all. So I think we were were Were were we looking at modifying this? Um are you leaving it as is, Mrs. Walsh? Um I'm trying to catch up here with the words. So, John, your point is you think it's good to keep in there, but to change it to may or may not. Yes. At the discretion of the district. Anonymous written concept may may or may not be investigated at the discretion of the district is what I would recommend. No, I just I just want to take the whole language out. That's what my motion is. I'm going to keep it because may or may not is the discretion that things may not get investigated that parent wants investigated, its parent can file a written complaint with
034the school principal or assistant principal regarding a topic addressed in this policy. If it's a how often is that going to happen? I wouldn't think it's going to happen very often, but if it has to do with bullying or something, it may be an I think it should be if that's what they want. So, I'm just going to leave my motion stand and let the chips fall where they may. Mr. Krishna, were you making gonna make a motion? Oh, yep. You're right. You're correct. Sorry. Any other discussion on this motion? I need just a few minutes, you guys. I mean, if you guys give me a minute. Thanks. So, the motion on the floor is to strike the final final sentence out of the first paragraph. Correct. Correct. Yeah. The first paragraph under concerns and
035appeals procedure, right? Thank you. I'm ready. If if you're okay, I'll re the motion president and then I can do roll call. Yes, please. Okay. Mrs. Walsh's motion is as follows. Motion to remove the language under concerns and appeals procedures that reads anonymous written concerns may not be investigated. And this is in policy IGBLA. I have her as the first and Mr. Kersner the second. If it's okay, we'll move forward to roll call. Mr. Kersner. No. Miss Bower, no. Miss Gray, no. Miss Walsh, I motion fails. Oh, I'm sorry, Miss Aldoberger. No. Okay, motion fails. And to vote on the original motion from Miss Gray or Mr. Kersner, are you going to make a motion for the uh may or may not language? Yes. I would move that we change the language of the end
036of the first paragraph under concerns and appeals to anonymous written concerns may or may not be investigated based on their merit at the discretion of the district. I have a second. Any discuss? I may just need him to repeat the whole thing. That may may or may not be investigated at the discretion of the district captioning. Well, I don't I don't have that screen. I'm sorry. Oh, that's why I was just asking to read that last part may or may not be investigated regardless of merit. If I heard you correctly, at the discretion based on their merit at the discretion of the district. Yes. May or may not be investigated based on the dis on their merit at the discretion of the district. Thank you. And Mr. Thank you. Any discussion on this motion? And
037just my understanding was just a question that in this case is just further clarifies either way saying may but we just added may not. Correct. May or may not. It's the same thing. Correct. That's yeah that's how I interpret it. It's it's may or may not and it's based on um the mayor. That is that is the language. May or may not based on their merit at the discretion board. Yes. May or may not be investigated. So you're saying it reads, "Anonymous written concerns may or may not be investigated based on their merit at the discretion of the district." Correct. Right. Thank you. And what do you mean? Um is there something spec? Is there something specific when you when you added in that based So obviously uh I think it just gives clarity. So
038it's not willy-nilly. It's it's saying that if we get a written complaint and it's anonymous, we're going to at least look at it to see if it has any merit. If the superintendent or whoever he assigns this, uh there's not enough information here. I can't, you know, there's nothing I can do with this. Then it's meritless and we feel no compulsion to move forward. If they look at it and say, "Hey, this looks like we've got something we really need to concerned about than they have the ability to do before. I just thought it took out the ambiguity like it was any favoritism or willy-nilly I guess for lack of a better way of saying it. This question Yes. My question is as we get to the bottom of this paragraph, it talks about the
039procedures. So then we would need to come back and discuss the procedures on how to, you know, or what do we already have in place for this? I guess that's my question. I don't know if that's necessarily about the motion, but it is in the policy. the last paragraph u discusses that and then just wanted to see what um administration may have to say on that part. I just want to make sure it's clear and we're I'm doing it you know an open session. Yeah. So I it's implied I believe in all the language here, right? If you're anonymous you obviously have no ability to appeal anything. Oh no. My question was to the administration team just as as far as with that language. um potentially being added. How is that going to work with
040the procedures to ensure prompt and fair attention to written concerns about this policy? Because that would be like the next step, right? If I'm reading that correctly. Okay. They shook their heads. right now. Um, I I would need some time to kind of think about this. See, you know, I I know it's at odds with some negotiated contracts. Um I know that there I was trying to look while we were talking reference to other policies about anonymous things. So um and then taking that line and applying it to the whole of this policy would take a little bit of a time for for me to feel comfortable assessing that. Thank you. That's what I wanted to just know. So we have that and um when you said that it would talk about like our um
041our union folks. Okay. Thank you. I want to clarify what the superintendent said. You said what John's proposing is at odds with negotiated contracts. Is that correct? Uh yes. What what which contracts then what part of this contract? Uh I mean I think we've had pretty extensive discussion about anonymous complaints that that the procedure to evaluate that is in the teachers contract. I don't know. I I I said I know for sure it's in GMLA. I I don't know uh what the language is and see off the top of my head. One second. It said that this the computer translated that to what the language is and obesity off the top of my head. What the language is and what off the top? I I think I was saying um GMLEA contract um that I
042know that specifically in there in complaint procedure and I said I do not know the OPC language off the top of my head. Oh, okay. Thank you. And OPC wouldn't be a word. Yeah, it's changed. It doesn't know how to translate that. Thank you. And I'm only I'm only asking that just because you know we're we're in the public and just wanted to make sure we're discussing those things as we're considering the language change to vote on this evening. You know, what does that look like? And there's another part of this policy that we have to enact. So, I just wanted to make sure we were all kind of thinking about that and next steps forward. All right. Any other discussion on this motion? I had um I had one uh I had some community
043members point out one thing that uh and I'll just I'll just throw this out for consideration. Um obviously um if you have uh if you were to take uh a complaint or I'm trying to find the right word, give me a second here. Um a protection order, right? So if you're an employee and anyone could file a protection order against few and that would cost you your job, then that could become leverage and all kinds of problematic, right? So we're not saying, you know, our employees if they have a protection order can't work in the district. However, we're saying that parental involvement is not allowed um if protection of consent agreement. Okay. But If that is the measure, then shouldn't we be holding um our employees on supplemental and voluntary contracts to that same level?
044In other words, if you're not going to let a parent be involved in coaching because they have a protection order, should we allow an employee to take a supplemental contract if they have a protection order? It seems to it seems the members of the public when they looked at this that it was it might be two-faced, if you will, for lack of better terms, right? What where you at? Yeah. Uh so um nothing in the policy either activity violation includes any of the following. Um um a condition of bond, a protection order, a consent order, a condition of community. Can you give me what paragraph? Like are you under definitions, parent authorization, sexuality content, student health and well-being? What part of the polic Um, are you at the very beginning? Right. If I'm understanding this
045correctly, um, we're we're excluding parental involvement. Am I wrong? If you have, for instance, um, condition of bond protection order, consent agreement or um, control community controlled sanctions. We're excluding community involvement for those type of issues. Am I am I misunderstanding that? Is that why that's not mentioned? Can you help with that, Mike? So, he's referring to the first page. It's in green. If you have a color copy, it starts with nothing in this policy at the bottom of the first page. Nothing in this policy requires disclosure for activity in violation of any court order, including any of the following. And the second one is a protection order or consent agreement pursuant to all these revised codes. So if I'm understanding correctly, your question is about does this or does this not this policy require
046disclosure or activity in violation of any court order in particular protection where I don't think it does. I think it's just the opposite. Nothing in this policy requires this disclosure or requires disclosure of activity in relation of any court order including a protection order. So a parent maybe if I wanted to be very thorough nothing in this policy requires a parent to disclose I'm not sure about the or activity. I think that's a thinks that there are some words omitted perhaps but I believe that it's saying that the parent does not have to disclose a protection order. Okay. Is there a possibility that that or should be of nothing in this policy requires disclosure of activity and violation or inactivity and violation? I'm not certain about why the word or would be important there. And
047you're on the number two, correct? Well, I think the question really pertains to the wording that starts with nothing in this policy requires disclosure. So in essence, what it's saying is nothing in this policy requires a parent to disclose a conditional bond or protection order or consent agreement. So I think a wording there is fine. I believe the problem lies in the word or. Nothing that has policy requires disclosure or activity in violation. There seems to be omitted words. Yeah, it could be. And that could be incorrect, too. Nothing. This policy requires disclosure of an activity in violation of any court order. That seems to work. as I'm reconsidering it, it actually could work. because the the sentence concludes or continues with that the word of is at the end of it. So nothing in
048this policy requires disclosure or activity in violation of any court order including any of the following. So it could read nothing in this policy requires disclosure of any of the following. I believe now that that could read as is as originally stated nothing possibly requires disclosure or activity in violation of any court order including any of the following. So again it could read if you divide it up the first part would be nothing in this policy requires disclosure of any of the following nothing in this policy requires act activity in violation of any court order including any of the following. So this is just protecting the parents or saying that the parents don't have to disclose any of these things to actually have a a concern or to be involved with a matter that they
049have a concern with. It was the opposite of what John how John was reading it. Yes. Nothing in this policy requires disclosure. So, it's saying that nothing in this policy is saying that the parents have to disclose any of those things that are listed. It's a protection for the parents. Yeah. And I I think I was misreading this to think believing that these were disqualifiers and and the things under the green, right? The one, two, three items that aren't scratched out scratched out under nothing and this policy requires are not exclusions to the ability to um be involved as a parent in coaching or anything else. Is that correct? That's how I read it as well. Yes. Okay. Thank you. I I just misinterpreted its purpose. Thank you. You're welcome. Well, I was just going
050to say we're a little over an hour in. This is a required policy. We're debating changing the sample language. We haven't really done any analysis on some of the proposed changes. Maybe we're not ready to vote on this tonight. I think I think we're I think we only have the one left, the one thing left on our agenda to vote on, and that is whether we change it to may or may not based on that language. I don't think there's anything else, is there? We have So, we have two motions still left. We have the language of may or may not, which is your your motion, and we have we still need to vote on Mrs. Gray's motion. modify the the language that says the super the superintendent. Um, let me go down to it.
051Do you have it? Do you mind rereading that one? Yep. Sorry. But to answer your question, Mr. Krishna, there are two um agendas still that we need to vote on for this u for this policy. One was, am I wrong? That one was at the request of the superintendent to add or designate or is that something different? That is the one. So the modification of the policy to change um the word instead of it to say they to say superintendent and then also add superintendent or designate. Right. So that is the first one. Okay. Well, that one's I would say considering it came from the superintendent completely non-controversial. It's just a I think a typo or that doesn't match. So that should be simple. Can we get down to it? Any other discussion? So let's
052if you where are we at? So Mrs. Dotoberger, can you reread Yes, I can. Uh the motion that we are voting on right now. Yes, sir. Yes, Mr. President. So the motion that we have currently on the floor is as follows. Motion to modify the language that not that anonymous written go to the I didn't type it all the way out. Anonymous written concerns may or may not be investigated based on their merit at the discretion of the district. Right. And one last thing, I promise you keep in mind that as you're talking about how this conflicts with um the possible oper or um union contracts, it it's quite possible that a written complaint could be about um an a a parent coach or a parent problem or student problem. Is that not correct? In
053other words, it does a written complaint wouldn't necessarily have to be employee based. Correct. In that scenario. Yeah. Correct. And actually, that was the other thing I was looking our uh policy KLD. Public complaints about district personnel uh is another policy that has complaints about personnel are instig are investigated fully and fairly. Before any such complaint is investigated, it must be submitted in writing and signed. Anonymous complaints are disregarded. So we do have that spe that this would put us in conflict with some of our other policies as well. Right. But what I'm saying is there this keeps it that is written, right? But this would keep the door open if the um complaint was not uh employee related. Correct. Well, this says that the this is would be complaints regarding a topic addressed in
054this policy. So, it's directly related to this policy. All right. Are we ready? Yep. No. Madam Vice President I mean, this policy is about the district obtaining parental authorization and being open, I guess, with with the parent. So, all this that John's going to add just directly relates to this polic Kathy, can you repeat what you just stated, please? The changes that John wants to make directly relate to this policy. They don't relate to other policies. If you read the paragraph, I was just going to say in order to um fully state um that that language, I would just want to make sure we cross reference the other policies that are listed. And I think Mr. Morpucher did share with us in the beginning that that if we made changes and I'm not sure if
055this changes that an example of that um that it would require us to make the changes to the other policies and as you notice on the last page which lists the Ohio Revised Code sections as well as the cross references for the same policies. I just want to say that for the record. Um but I don't know if that is what you meant Mr. Mer when you shared that if we were to take it out or do something else would it then impact those policies? Yeah, it's best to advise to for a board to keep his policies consistent among the policies. It's one of the easiest ways to to lose a lawsuit when you have such inconsistency among your policies. Thank you. So, if I'm if I'm hearing this correctly, then you're you're saying what
056we're having in here is is what we should not be adding or modifying to this. I was just saying I would like the opportunity and M. Walsh made the statement that John's changes do not impact other policies, just this policy. However, this policy cross references IG AE, IG A, IG AI, IGBL, JHC, JHCA, JFH. And how do they affect those policies? Miss Walsh, I was just saying it cross references and for to say it does not impact. With those being cross referenced, I would just want to check and not say that as a blanket that it is. It does not impact because I I don't know. I was just making a statement and I was just saying it out loud. We're just having discussion. That's all. So, as Yeah. And I'm trying to contribute to
057the discussion. I'm asking you how the the how does that um impact those policies? I was just saying as I mentioned, I would need to we would need to double check to ensure it does not if we make that change. That's what I was saying and that's why I asked Mr. Moritzer when he first got up earlier, I don't know if you were about an hour ago, he shared that making changes to this policy um some of the languages language in it could impact our other policies. And then he just stated that be with the inconsistencies could then make us liable for a lawsuit. And I know you're contributing. I wasn't saying that it does or does not. I just said I would want to at least cross reference and double check these since they
058are listed on this policy. There are several other policies cross referenced here. So I would just want to make sure cross crosswalk it basically that if we make this change that it's in compliance with these other ones that we already have. That's all based off of this recommendation. Yeah. Um I think that's I think that's an excellent point. I think the deeper issue is um there's a whole lot of state law that allows for anonymous complaints. So, it's quite possible that we have a whole bunch of policies that could really get us in trouble because, you know, obviously we've got reportable offenses that someone is definitely allowed to report anonymously. And then if we have written in policy or written in a a a just because it's written in a teacher's contract or one other
059contract doesn't mean that it's fully vetted le leg legally and and even though it might be in 90% of the contracts across the state doesn't mean it's been fully vetted uh legally. So I I think there there are deeper issues with that. Um, so anyway, uh, I understand what you're saying. I I just think we need to we need to understand the that and we also need to u understand um the the the whole depth of u our responsibility to to respond to requ to complaints whether anonymous or not. When you're ready to roll call, please I want to make one other respon. Can you wait one second, Miss? I'm trying to get caught up on these. All right. Thank you, ma'am. writing. Yeah, I was just going to say that our main responsibility is
060to keep our students safe and our parents need to be informed and um I would hate for someone not to make a complaint because they're afraid of retaliation against their student and by having an anonymous in there in some form or another that we are promoting the safety of our students. All right, I'm ready. Um, Mr. uh, President, we can move the vote. Okay. Move forward with roll call. We state the motion so we're clear on what we're voting on. Yep. Mr. Kersner made the motion to modify the language that states Anonymous written concerns, excuse me, may or may not be investigated based on their merit at the discretion of the district. It was seconded by Mr. Bower. Roll call is as follows. Mr. Kersner, I. Mr. Bower, no. Miss Gray, no. Miss Walsh. Hi,
061Mr. Aldoberger. No. And I'm going to state why I'm voting no as the other language still protects with the word nay. Thank you. I would like you to make a comment as to why I'm voting no is because I want us to stay consistent in our policy and our policies are stated the way um the policy originally reads, which is anonymous written concerns may not may not be investigated and that is consistent with all of our policies. In the same vote on to um Mrs. Gray's motion, Mrs. Delenberger, do you mind rereading um yes that motion? Yes, I can. Mr. President, one second. All right. The motion from Miss Gray is as follows. We made the modification to the policy to change the word they based on um recommendation from Mr. Meritzer to superintendent so
062we can identify the actual title and to add superintendent or designate as the design could be someone else other than him that gives that opportunity for that. It was seconded by Mr. Bower and we'll call as follows. Mr. Ker, I'd like to have a discussion. I mean, I'm not following what you're saying here because you didn't say what page number, which paragraph, which topic, which sentence. If you could do that, please. I appreciate we didn't do that for the other, but I I'll gladly do that. One second, ma'am. This is simply this motion is simply to add the or designate language. Correct. And superintendent. So she wanted me to be specific on the actual location. So I'll do so at this time under the concerns and appeals procedure. Second paragraph, first sentence, add the word
063after superintendent at or designate. Everybody there? Okay. And the very last sentence, remove the word they and add the superintendent determines the resolution to the parents concern. Thank you. Any other discussion? Yeah, I have one. Um, and I'm trying I'm not trying to drag this out. I'm just trying to cover it correctly. Um, section 3313.6610 um outlines the law uh regarding our anonymous reporting programs. Given that we have specific requirements as being part of the Safe Ohio tip line operations, I would ask that the board president submit um the relevant policies that state that we may not use anonymous um complaints against 331 3313.6610 and advise the board All right. Can you can you restate that for me, please, Mr. Kushner? Yes. Um, actually, if you all could, if it's not a problem, if you
064can click on the CC at the bottom of your screen, um, exactly what I said will pop right up in front of you. We we don't have that screen. So, yes, sir. unfortunately. So, if you could just slow down just a little bit and restate that and I can capture that, please. Thank you. Okay. As being part of the Ohio state safe, excuse me, of the safe Ohio tipline operations, I would ask the board president to submit the relevant policies that state that we may not use anonymous complaints in our investigations of employees. against the Ohio Revised Code. Once again, go back. You said submit the relevant policies that stated we cannot and is this a motion or is this a statement? Yes. No, I'm making a motion. Okay. One moment. Can I hold you
065up? Can we vote on the motion that's at chance first? I thought it was a statement at first. So that's why I was capturing it. Can we let's go let's go back to the original motion, Mrs. Gay's motion and then after that we can Mr. Her. Yep. Perfect. All right. I thought we just voted on that. I'm sorry. No, we were voting on it and then Yeah, we thought you just had another comment and but it turned into a motion. So that's kind of what we Yep. No problem. So, Miss Libby uh Gray's motion is as follows. That in the under the concerns and appeals procedure section paragraph two first sentence it changes it adds the words or designate. So, it'll say principal decision to the superintendent or designate. And then the last sentence change
066from the word they to superintendent. And I have Mr. Bower as a second and I'm ready for roll call now. Yes, Mr. Kersner. Hi, Mr. Bower. Hi, Miss Gray. I Miss Walsh. Hi. And we'll wait out the worker. I motion passes. Now to Mr. Kersner's motion. Please uh restate your motion, Mr. Kersner. And we'll need a second. Say it slowly. State it slowly and hopefully we can get it. All right. Give me one moment because I need So, um, given that the Ohio Revised Code 3313 um, outlines our responsibilities for anonymous reporting programs. I would like to request that the board president submit our policies. That state anonymous complaints shall not be investigated to the prosecutor's office for clarification against 3313.6610. submit the policies that state anonymous anonymous complaints shall not be investigated to the
067Franklin County prosecutor. Is that correct? Correct. I'll second that. Mr. Kersner as first, Mrs. Walsh as second. On to discussion, please. It's relevant to the discussion with that today and it's important that we follow the laws of the state of Ohio to join us to do so. So asking the attorney general would be in the best interest of the board. Miss Law, you were very low. I'm so sorry I could not hear anything you stated. If you could repeat that and a little and lean on the mic just a little bit more for me please. I'm sorry I have to get the close caption back up. I said um it um that motion is relevant to the discussion that we've had today and it's important that we follow the laws of the state of Ohio.
068We sworn to do so. Um so asking the attorney general would be in the interested. Any other discussion? Hearing none. When you are ready, we'll call I I would just only thing I would like to say was just that the um that our policies you know go through our policy provider which is through the legal side for OSDA. Um so yes they have been vetted at least by a series of lawyers. Um I would hate to think that we are intentionally violating this. Um, and I would recommend or at least in addition to this is what we are going to go on and do. Um, we would also bring this attention to our policy provider if there are concerns. Sure. Absolutely. I mean, there's no harm in submitting it. I'm assuming that this is a
069free uh service that's provided. Is that correct, Mr. Kersner? Right. The um prosecutor's office is our de facto legal service and they do not charge us. When you're ready, roll call, please. Mr. Morbiser, did you have something you'd like to share? Yes, thank you. I I want to point out to the board that the policy that we're considering is specific to Ohio Revised Code 3313.473 parental involvement policy, meaning that we have to have a policy. And I want to point out the nature 3313 what? I'm sorry. 3313.473 rental involvement policy. And I want to point out the nature of this particular per promoting parental involvement policy. This is about this is largely about the impetus for this is what appears on page three I believe and this is this is covered under student health and
070well-being. The nature of this is district personnel are prohibited from directly or indirectly encouraging a student to withhold information about a parent concerning a student's mental, emotional, physical health or well-being or a change in related services or monitoring. District personnel are prohibited from discouraging or prohibiting parental notification of and involvement in decisions affecting students mental, emotional, physical health or well-being. We're kind of looking at this I think we've been looking at this as general complaints. This is not general complaints. I was just pointing out that we want to be consistent with our policies. What Mr. Kersner was pointing out is policy and I'll I'll repeat what he pointed out 3313 I'm sorry Ohio revised code 3313 anonymous reporting programs that specific Ohio revised code pertains to the fact that we have to register with safer
071Ohio tip line and we have there are several provisions under it and there's even information that we have to collect based on those anonymous calls That is the avenue that the state has set up for anonymous reporting having to do with disciplinary actions taken the previous school year. The number and type of mental wellness referrals as a result of anonymous reports. The race and gender of the students subject to the disciplinary action mental wellness referrals and the race and gender I'm sorry any other information the department of education or department safety determines necessary. The nature of that was to allow for an avenue for anonymous reporting. So that exists regardless of whatever change you want to make to this particular policy that we're looking at promoting parental involvement which actually is about something very different
072in its nature. So again just be we since the state has allowed for actually not allowed for has required both policies and especially an anonymous reporting program that will remain there regardless of whatever you put on this page about anonymity. So parents have the ability or anyone has the ability to on that state for Ohio tip line make their anonymous reports. Right. So the question that I have and I think maybe they would answer this is this is saying you know you have an anonymous report. We have a a we have a responsibility not just under this but of all these policies to report back to them. Now so if I see something in writing that says hey we don't have to do anything because it's anonymous. I'm not very clear on how we report
073back um on on this issue. I'm also not very clear on the fact that they can give their name and still rename remain anonymous to us and then we have all these policies that say hey if it's anonymous um you can't do anything you can't take formal actions etc etc. So beyond just this one page, as you say, it's important to align our all our policies. I'm concerned that there might be a misalignment policy versus law. That's a fair concern. And I what I'm always encouraging a board to do is have consistent policies and this being one of them. Consistency across the board that you do or do not accept written anonymous written communication or complaints or whatever or concerns. But it's just it's very important to point out that there already exists an anonymous
074reporting system that we are beholden to and that we have to report that. So that's the way that we report anonymous complaints. To make another way to report anonymous complaints doesn't seem necessary, right? And I wasn't um Okay, I guess I see what you're talking about, but if an anonymous complaint um comes in, u I guess you're saying that if it comes in, it's not going to fall under um under this particularly policy. But then again, it sure wouldn't hurt for me to know that. Um no, I encourage what you're saying. I encourage alignment and checking and double-checking um policy with whatever authority you'd like. Thank you. Any other discussion? Roll call, please. Mr. Ker. Hi. Mr. Bor. Hi. Miss Gray. No. Miss Walsh. Hi. Sorry, I'm messing up something. and Miss Albo Burgerer. No
075motion passes on to the original motion. I'm sorry. On to We have to We have to approve the Yeah, the full policy. Yes, we have to Oh, I thought I thought it was originally. Sorry. Thank you. All right, on to the cell phone policy. She to Yeah. to modify the approval of the policy with those two updates. That's what the motion was. All right. Cell phone policy. Okay, the cell phone policy we provided the policy from Dayton public schools which was a topic at the last meeting. The Ohio cell phonence uh in schools model policy which was discussed at the last meeting and then um the uh OSBA policy. So, what I would like to do, um, I don't know if we need a motion first, but I would like to have, uh, Mike do
076an analysis of the three policies, what's what's different, what's it like, what might be of interest, and then more well, not more importantly, but additionally important, I wanted to have Mr. Smatthers give an overview of his work with the administrators and safety committee as to the action steps about how the cell phone policy or whatever it is would be rolled out and implemented. So, do we need a motion first? Yes, sir. Yeah. So, move second. Hang on one second. So, Miss Grace first, Mr. Kersner second. Yeah. To move forward discussion. All right. Thank you. So, Mr. Morer, will you take us through an analysis of the three policies? Can I make a comment first? Um the um Dayton policy about board is totally irrelevant. It's dated 2020. They've made all kinds of changes. They didn't
077do a good job of making the changes in their board policy. They made their changes through um their student handbook, etc. So, what we're looking at here um as by way of policy is pretty well useless because it doesn't reflect at all what they're doing. Um so, I don't know that we need to spend much time on that. I also wondered about incorporating the policy that um Libby sent forward if that's a possibility. Was that your desire? That was um from the state. That wasn't I didn't that was and we have that captured. I I hope you all will bear with me. I'm I'm not very well prepared as you can imagine. This is um embarrassing and I just you know as you know I'm not prepared. I'd like to make a motion for 10
078of five minute recess, please. I second. All right. Roll call. Mr. Kersner. Hi. Hi. He said I burger. I Mr. Bower. Hi. Miss Gray. Hi. Miss Walsh. Hi. It's 8:40. We at recess. It is 8:47 uh p.m. We have returned from recess. Um and to note um Mr. Kushner left the meeting. All right. On to um cell phone policy. All right. Mr. Warer, can you give us the quick overview. Yes. So, I'm going to discuss uh four different documents instead of three. I'm also going to include in that Dayton public schools because I did find some usefulness in that particular policy even though it is dated June 16, 2020 much a long time before the state actually enacted their cell phone um Ohio revised code. So I am going to refer to Ohio Revised Code
079first. That's Ohio Revised Code section 3313.753 prohibition against students carrying electronic communications devices. What's especially good about OC in this matter is that the definitions are offered. Definitions for electronic communications device, school, school building, school grounds or premises. Those are all defined in Ohio Revised Code in section 3313.753. I'm going to recommend that we take that in advisement that section for definitions and I'm going to include an additional definition to differentiate between electronic communication device and personal electronic device. So again, that's Ohio Reise Code 3313.753. That's where all this started. Do you have a print out of that? I do not have an additional one. I have one copy. It's Ohio Revised Code section 3313 753 prohibition against students care and electronic communications devices. So of course that Ohio Revised Code led the Ohio Department
080of Education to put out guidance. That guidance says is entitled Ohio's Cell phones in schools model policy. Believe that you're aware of that one. You've had that in your possession before. Again, that's Ohio cell phones and schools model policy by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. The interesting thing or the notable thing about this policy or model policy is that focuses only on cell phones. I don't believe that that's the board in board's intent and I don't believe that that's in line with uh Deputy Superintendent Smatter's recommendations from the committee that he's been working with. So, I'm going to talk about that in a moment as well. the Dayton public schools policy that Mr. Kersner uh talked about. I I did find some usefulness in that policy. The policy is thorough but is bordering
081on too much information that needlessly strays into other policies that they have. You don't need to outline every single um you make that reference at the end of your policies to a particular or set of particular board policies that are included or are related to this. that you should not put all the information that Dayton public schools necessarily put in there. So we'll talk about that as well. Now what we've been looking at I think what the board has been considering is I think it's titled copy of use of electronic communications equipment by students. As I said before it does not include personal electronic devices. we necessarily have to include personal electronic devices because personal electronic devices don't necessarily have communication powers or communication capability. So we have to focus on both electronic communications equipment
082by students and also those that may not which includes many peeds. What Dayton public schools also does is it offers a list of personal electronic devices. problem with that list is that includes some things that are going to become that are either outdated right now like pocket PCs or it includes some things that may soon be outdated or some promoting of particular brands of devices for example iPhones or iPads or Apple watches. What we should do is not promote individual brand brands in our policy but what they are in general. So overall, I believe that what we're going to be what we should be considering is something that probably cannot be decided tonight. We should probably involve or all of these recommendations, these guidelines or higher revised code in consideration because what we're putting out
083so far or what we're considering for our policy really needs more information. not a lot of information, but also what it needs to do is is is continue to focus on we're talking about what Mr. Smats is going to explain to us. We're talking about a time period beginning with when students arrive at school to when they leave school. That's going to be all-encompassing. That's not what this particular policy says that we've been considering because it says recognizing the impact of student cell phone use on student mental health and achievement and the distractions cell phones present within the classroom. This basically focuses on the classroom throughout and our policy is should be reflective of what Mr. Sm going to present which is the time period from when the student arrives to when the student leaves
084the school premises. Any discussion about what Mr. Morriser just presented? Okay. I thought that was well done. Thank you, Mr. Morger. Uh I do want to say that we this isn't something new and we've been working on this for quite a bit including two of our board members who's part of our district safety committee. Um I also want to add that as of last month parent advisory committee that we're including the parent advisory committee also in some of these discussions. We need a solid foundation of a board policy to start with what our practices, procedures, and guidelines are on what we're going to do to follow through with our policy or our board policy for cell phone and personal devices. Uh the elementary schools have done a really good job of keeping the cell phones
085uh off and out of sight in their backpacks and not a disruption at school. In fact, and I'm looking at Miss Gray, we were part of some of the discussions with the with the elementary students in the student advisory and the students even say that the cell phones and personal devices have become a distraction and they want those out. It's amazing that the kids are on board with this. Um so with those committees talking to teachers, staff members, bus drivers, transportation, um the district safety committee, parent advisory, and student advisory committee that we came up with a guideline of what we're doing. But we're still talking about this. Wednesday, we have our district safety committee meeting. And again, we're going to continue this conversation. The conversation has led to this point, but we still need
086a policy to from for a foundation of this. And that is that from the start of school until school is finished that the cell phones are to be off and out of sight and not a distraction. I want to say that this approach is very positive that we're trying to help with the mental health of our students, the student interactions and development of how to interact with each other uh to lessen the amount of bullying, harassment, and intimidation that has h happened as a result of these personal devices and cell phones. Um, we're also asking for no headphones, uh, no watches, no tablets, and personal laptops. Anything that would, uh, require them to get on their own devices and have get on social media and other things. Every student in our district is given a
087Chromebook and have access to everything that they need electronically to thrive and be successful in our classrooms and in our schools. So, the only issue that we haven't settled on is what are we going to do with the students on the school buses? and over 80% of our kids ride school buses. And talking with transportation that transportation has a rule that the kids aren't supposed to have their cell phones on at the buses, but uh we know that that has happened. And so that's going to be discussed at the next district safety committee meeting about the transportation and what that looks like on the school bus. The feedback that we've gotten from our parents is mostly I want my kid to have their cell phone in case an emergency happens or if I ever need
088to get a hold of them or god forbid something happens in one of the schools and we understand that we're taking that into consideration. So typically a kid is going to come to school, they will have their cell phone on them or in their backpacks, but is to be turned off and silenced and not to be a part of school. We're not we're looking at those cell phones are put away and they're not coming out until school's over. That includes lunchtime, passing time, going to the bathroom, hallways, any of that. It's off. That's where we are right now. Now, I do want to say this. Our processes and procedures need to be separate from the policy. And mainly because this is something new and we're trying to figure this out. We may have to make
089some adjustments on what we're doing with our pro practices, procedures, and uh uh and how we're our corrective action. This is going to be new and uh we'll have to make some adjustments. So, the policy that we're voting on is one that was already it looks like from based off of our policies, but we voted on it in November 6 of 2024. So this policy is already in place, right? And does it comply with the deadline of July 1st? Yes. What was required in that policy? Yes. I um I do want to mention and Miss Gray, you've been a part of this the template from the Ohio Department of Education. We were looking at that and following that template and what our our practices will be. So the procedures will be based off of that,
090right? especially the corrective action. But I I don't want this to sound like it's a punishment. We're just trying to help our kids set clear boundaries with these cell phones and we're not going to let the screen time and these cell phones run their lives anymore. They're going to come to school and do what school was for. So basically right now we are in compliance with Ohio Revised Code with our current policy that we have. With with the current policy that we have. Yes. Okay. So, one of my concerns I have like a list of concerns. Okay. Um my concern was if we implement anything um like the Dayton or um the school's model policy um that we wouldn't be able to implement it and get everything in place for the beginning of the school
091year. So, that was one of my concerns. You want me to say something to that? Yes, Mr. Uh the what Mr. Morgaser is proposing policywise and is an enhancement to our current policy, but our current policy does meet the governor's expectations. Okay. Real sorry and real quick, Mr. Morris, I believe, did share the document with us that he's working on. Is that correct? Okay. Yeah. Okay. What are we going too fast? Okay. Let me know when you're ready. Well, I'm still aware Paul said that we were looking at something you said and then jump. We're not. The board is looking at Well, no, you were saying something about looking at the um expanding uh it's an enhancement. I believe Mr. Morbizer is proposing or giving something to the board of an enhancement of our current
092policy, but our current policy meets the governor's expectations. Well, if the current policy meets Hold on one second, Miss W. I had Mr. Bower and Mrs. Gray and then I can go to you if that's okay. I appreciate it. Thank you. All right. And Miss Gray, you said something after he mentioned the enhancement piece um of the suggestion that'll come to us um from the board which we and Seth mentioned that um that we already have a copy in our email of the suggested enhancement from Mr. Morper. Yes. Okay. What did you say? Anything else? Okay. Talked about the the Ohio cell phone um in school model policy and that my concern was if we implemented Oh, I had that. You got that? That then I haven't gone any far. Cool. Yep. All right. Then,
093Miss Miss Walsh, I'm ready for you. Sorry about that, ma'am. Well, I'm sorry. Miss Grace said she had a list of questions, though. We We only got through one. Is that correct? Yes. One second. Um, and I do, while we got a second, I do want to say our current board policy at a minimum meets the expectations. Mr. Morviser is going to take it a step further. Okay. Right. That currently July 1st will be we are in compliance as Okay. Okay. Okay. All right. Miss Gray, are you going to listen anymore? Okay. Okay. The other concern was um on our policies is to make sure that we take into consideration extracurricular activities and how students handle their cell phones at that point. Um currently from my understanding, you know, we don't have access for our
094athletes or our theater or whatever students to be able to contact their parents to come pick them up if they did not have cell phone. So that was one of the concerns that I had if implementing any type of policy that was I I was bringing that up with the district safety committee. Mr. uh Schneider brought that to my attention and asked about study tables after school and after school activities. I think that's something that we're going to have to talk about. The idea behind everything that I said as far as our practice was from the start of school till the end of school, but now we got to start thinking about the bus rides and extracurricular activities. Okay. I'll stop. Okay. The third item that I was concerned with was elementary students. Um I
095don't see that there's a need for cell phones in elementary school and I my personal opinion is that they we should not have them and especially after um meeting with all the elementary students that you know had gone back to their fellow students and asked them their thoughts. They all agreed that there was there was one student out of the 24 that said, "No, you can't take my cell phone." But everybody else in that group was saying, "I've talked to my friends and there is no reason." And it causes, they said that's the biggest part of what is causing the bullying and um the distraction in class. They're watching videos on their phones, things like that. So so currently with our element sorry you'll have to take my blurb. These are good ones thinking about
096this for a few weeks. Yeah. I can wait. I'll wait. Okay. If I can say something right here. I just want to for the record with me being the treasure prom, I'm having a I'm trying to still insert comments because I have a lot of questions and concerns. So, I do not want the general public to think that I'm not engaged. But I am trying to make sure our meeting minutes are appropriate for record so that when you see them, you can see what's discussed. But I do have some concerns. But I'm going to I'm not speaking as much because I'm trying to capture. I just wanted to mention that for the record. I'm ready for whoever's next. Sorry. Well, I'm just going to reply. Uh right now with the elementaryaries, the kids are not
097to have their cell phones. If they have a cell phone, it's to be put in their backpack. Their backpacks hang on the hooks wherever they keep their coats. they're not supposed to have them in their classroom or at school at all. Are there times where kids sneak and get their cell phones or don't put it up like they ask and there are issues with that that would come with the corrective action. Are you saying they can't have their phones at all? I I that's how I feel. Um I just don't think that there's a need to have it in the classroom. Um the the students what they have told me during our meetings is that during free time they get to get their phones out and that causes issues because then they they're on their
098games or they're watching videos or they're texting and bullying people at that point, right? And that comes with a fair and consistency across the district. Um, I will say that um I did hear the kids say that I heard what you're saying. The push back from another point of view for us that we took into consideration were that the parents were given these cell phones to the kids and they wanted them to have them when they walk to school or walk home. So they they wanted it for safety and communication and I guess that's something we're probably going to have to talk about. I'll put that on the agenda for Wednesday. Okay. And if I could say the same thing as as a children that walk from the bus stop, there has been incidents in
099our neighborhood even though the bus stop is not that far. They did have a watch for that reason because there were issues and then there were times that if we were running a little late, they walk from home and go in the house. So, or that if their older brother wasn't at the bus stop, it was a way for them to reach out for help if there's an issue. So, that's my concern. Good point. And we had a pedophile in our neighborhood at one point. Right. And and but I did hear what you're saying. I'm I'm giving you the other point of view. Yeah. I appreciate that. So, I guess I'm I'm going to interject then, too. Um, that was my my other concern is I'm all I am all on board with no cell
100phones during school hours, but I do know like before school and after school, there's kids that might need cell phones from a safety perspective. So whether they're getting on the bus or they're walking home from school after school, um, you know, some of our kids have a a pretty long walk and like what Mrs. Dober had said, some neighborhoods there's there's pedophiles out there. there's there's, you know, people that are out there doing nefarious things. Um, and so I would I would certainly not want to would want to prohibit um any child from having a cell phone, but I do agree during school hours they need they need to be absolutely Yeah. And I and I I get I understand your concerns and that's a valid concern. Um and if we have a teacher allowing
101our kids to use it during recess and the school says no, then we have to follow up with that. Yeah. Um the other thing was the a tiered approach for the discipline I think is important. And then the last thing is when we when I first got on board we had a policy of no cell phone use and then it made the burden on to the teachers to be the ones to administer that policy and it disrupted the classes. And they spent more time dealing with cell phone issues than they did in teaching. And so all of this is all well and good, but we've got to have something that doesn't put that so much of a burden on the teachers because they need to be teaching the students and not spending time being an
102administrator, right? Uh being consistent and fair about all of this along the way. I will I'm proud of where we are with the elementaryaries. We can get better. I'm proud of what the ele the middle schools have done to this point and we can get better. The high school is going to be our biggest chore and we're going to have to give Mr. Alman and that staff over there some help. And I want to be clear, this is I I know we talked about corrective action and there's going to be tiered approach about helping kids make good choices and good decisions about this, but it's a positive approach and I'm and I want to take it from a viewpoint as a dad for the kids sake, we got to help them break away from these
103screens. We got to help them see that there's a whole life beyond these telephones and these cell phones and there's kids your own age right across from you that are ready to talk to you and ready to interact with you. And I think our kids are losing some of that development and that interactive with their own peers just sitting down and talking with kids at lunch and interacting with kids at your in your classrooms or during class change and and not have your face in the screen. On top of protecting kids from the things that are happening on social media that's hurting kids with bullying, harassment, and intimidation. Mrs. Walsh, I believe you were next. Thank you. Um, first I sent everybody a policy from Aland City Schools which I thought was good. I'm so
104Mark Mike reads out when he's working on this. Uh, we also received a a um email letter from a parent and the video on that was very good. Mike, did you get a copy of that? Yes. Okay, good. I was going to send it to you if you didn't. Did you, Paul? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. I thought it was very good and had a lot of great information. Um, definitely do not think we should allow cell phones um in the schools. Well, I know we have to lock them down or something. Kids are going to bring phones. um the policy should include what in my opinion should include what the um discipline procedure will be. I know that's part of the procedure, but I think that should be in the policy and I think the parent
105should have to come in and retrieve the cell phone. I don't think it should be given back to the student. I don't think it needs to be a three strikes, you're out. This isn't a baseball game. This is serious and I think it needs to be a policy that's very firm right up from the get-go. You're going to lose your right to have the cell phone at the school. If you bring it and get caught with it. Um there's a lot about the backpacks, you know, having them keep them in their backpacks. That's not successful because they go in the bathrooms. So, I think we should have a report from the treasurer on the viability and what the budget would be for couches or self locked ups or whatever, you know, looking into that um
106decide would be a good option. We've discussed all of those uh and we're looking at other schools that have tried different versions of that. So, uh everything that you just said, we're taking into consideration. If I could say um that I know we start looking at the I'm trying to keep up. I just don't want to miss my thought and I may have to go back and repeat something. But that we should mindful of also our parents because there may be parents that are working multiple jobs and I know we want them to come pick them up. So, I don't know if we'd be able to be flexible to have um additional hours in those instances because if you're the parent that's you are involved, you're doing the right thing, but maybe your student is
107not necessarily doing the right thing. You can't take off work. If you take off work, you could be in jeopardy of losing your job. You know, you want to just be mindful of everyone's situation. So, I don't know if there'll be provisions for things like that because not all parents can take off work or not all parents, you know, are able to meet those hours. So, I just wanted to give that thought. Not saying they shouldn't pick it up, just saying if we could be mindful, is there a way when we're thinking about the procedures and implementation to provide maybe not a six to two time frame, especially for the high school, those kind of things, right? And I'll just mention as we were talking about our corrective action and and when we would take
108the phone and have a parent come pick it up and the kid relies on the cell phone to get home and uh that that was brought up too. It's like do I take the kids safety piece as they walk home because they didn't do what they were told at school. And u so we had some discussion around that. I do want to say again that I I know Kathy mentioned this and I get where she's coming from on this, but for our own practicality, if you could keep what we're doing about the policy separate from what the policy is because again, this is going to be new and our tiered steps. we might need to change it, but if it's in our policy, we have to come back to the board and do a couple
109reads and and I'd be glad to share with the board all along the way what our uh administrative guidelines are and what we're doing and as a reply as in reaction to our board policy. Oh, go ahead. I strongly disagree with that. other districts across the state are having it in their policy what the what the disciplinary procedures look like. I don't see why our district would be any different and um from what I've read which I'll try to get copies of that for everybody the stuff that I have read it says it's important to have those things in the policy up front. So, I'd like to know um timelinewise, are we going to be ready with um with with with your recommendations by the start of the school year? Uh, I'm hoping because I've
110been meeting with the principles, we're going to keep meeting to talk about what this is and what it looks like. But we'll have this meeting with the district safety committee on Wednesday and hopefully it's definitely happening at the next parent advisory committee and then hopefully we can come uh with what we're doing about it. But, uh, Mike's proposing that we at least come back and talk about the cell phone policy of one more board meeting. I would think maybe June. Is that going to be too early or I'm sorry, July? It's been a day. Um, by July's board meeting, do you think you'll be ready so we could then review it and have it ready for August? Uh to be honest with you, I think if we could hit the ground running and start clearly
111communicating with our community, our parents, our staff, everybody what we're doing and what it looks like. Our principles are planning on doing video recordings. They want to send text messages, emails. We're going to have it posted on the website what we're doing. Uh but we got to get a solid foundation of what the policy is so we can take some steps. We have a pretty good idea of what the policy is going to be and I think we're on the right track but we need a policy first. So basically we won't be have a policy and we're going to use this policy for right now or we exist our existing policy because it meets the state right guideline but then we're having the new policy for the new school year right and we're using that
112model from the state department that you mentioned as a template. So, and just so I'm hearing correctly, we're looking at two. We're looking at probably two reads. One second. Can we, you know, y me really quick if you don't mind. So, I have Mr. Smathers. You Well, I'll start back with um you asked the timeline. Mr. Smathers, you mentioned and I don't have that, but then Mr. Bower asked about uh would we be ready by July's board meeting. Then Mr. Smatters then stated that you know there's a com comm's plan website emails all of that but we need a solid foundation on the policy first. Libby then stated basically we're we're going to use our current policy and then have a new policy for next year. Am I missing anything? I just felt like okay
113because some of my sentences are not complete. I just missed that piece though between I think you just wrapped it up. I just want to be clear though we have a pretty good understanding of what this is. I just don't think we can start communicating until we have a solid until we have the policy. I agree. I just want to make sure that we're not running out of time before the start of the school year. We won't run out of time. Um because we're going to need two readings, which would mean two board meetings. Yeah. So, so what I was going to say is we didn't know exactly how this conversation would go tonight. um the document that Mike shared with the group, there is another version of a policy that it's a combined policy
114put things together. I would like us to read through that tonight as a first read so we would be potentially ready to act at our July meeting because I agree with you. If it's at the end of July and we're just starting to put communications out, I think that's a problem. I think if we go over it tonight, if we have our second read and approve it or approve a version uh July 8th, that's about halfway through the summer, that still gives us time to to communicate. But I'm not sure I would want to wait and get to only to a first read, July 8th, and then try to figure out when we could have another special meeting to get to it because we have to get things printed. We have to get things prepared.
115So I mean it we have some time but I don't think we can sit and wait. So I don't have this policy for you. Have 48 hours is what our policy is. We're discussing policies and that's what our first 48 hours for anything to be looked at so that we can properly prepare. But this is the first read. It's not we're voting on it. So it's the first read but we're supposed to have 48 hours the notice of it 48 hours in advance of the first street. That's what our policy says. Well, Kathy, we didn't have 48 hours notice of all the changes on the first policy that we read tonight. That was required policy. Those were all discussion that happened during the meeting tonight. Our current policy meets state expectations. We can go by
116that. But the new policy we need to have before school starts and be able to get the word out to the parents in a timely manner. We have to have two second read correct. We need to have we need to have two readings of it. All right. Can we just pause for a second? I mean um is there a way I could ask for 10 minute recess to get caught up because there's a lot that went back and forth. So if we could just do that that way we're on recess and no one else is talk. So, I would like to make a motion for a 10-minute recess. Do I have a second? Second. All right. And at that time, can we um everybody read the policy? Also, that would be a change in our
117special meeting. Does that say that in our We are still on a cell phone policy. Okay. First, no. Okay. We're not going to have three. That's great. All right. So, uh to we have a roll call for a 10-minute recess. Mr. Bower. Hi, Miss Gray. Hi, Miss Walsh. What is the 10-minute recess for? So, I can get caught up. That was the request because you guys are going back and forth and I I need to get the meeting minutes tight. Thank you. What's her burger? I It is 9:22. We are at recess. We will reconvene at 9:33. We're ready. All right, it is 9:37. We have um come back from recess. Um to note um Mrs. Walsh uh left the meeting um during recess. And in during recess, I do want to clarify um that
118I was able to speak to our attorney just to double check. Um we are able to um have a first read of this policy tonight um as it is germanine to um what is on our agenda regarding the the use of cell phones and the and the policy regarding it. So um that is within the bounds of the special meeting. Um so we are able to have a first read of this tonight. um goal then would be to have the second read at our um our uh July um regular board meeting and at that point we could adopt it as well. I I had one thing that I before we let I got the uh update to the meeting minutes so thank you for the recess to my colleagues. Um I know that Mr. Smatters
119had mentioned you know connecting with uh the district safety committee as well as the board's parent advisory committee. I just want to note to our colleagues that our parent advisory committee is the day before our board meeting. So I know that policy states 4 48 hours. So if there's any additional input that may come within that um in less than that time frame because our meeting is July 7th as they present parent advisory presents at our July 8th meeting. So we did it the date before as a way for rehearsal. So I just wanted to share that with um my colleagues on that. Thanks. Is it possible Mr. Matters that um information that comes from the the safety committee meeting be forwarded to the parent advisory committee? Absolutely. And that way at least they've had
120an opportunity. Right. Thank you. Thank you. And then maybe we should just invite them to come. So then that way they have an opportunity. Um it's Wednesday. Would you be able to message them or send me the list? Uh yeah, Mr. Dr. Green or Mr. has I don't communicate piece but yes someone could just just make them aware of it at least and then that way we could get their information in enough time to then be within the policy piece to get both the board's parent advisory committee and our district safety wide committee's comments and share okay thank you all right any other comments regarding um the cell phone policy all Right. Oh, so this is just considered our first read and um are is someone going to read it or are we just going
121to just take it away as we normally would? I didn't know if there was anything that needed to be highlighted or is there any Mr. Moritzer, is there anything you'd like to to let us know about regarding this before we start? I would just like to ask that with this in this I'm going to make sure that after this board meeting request that this is added to our board docs please. So then that way if someone goes back and looks is it is it on there already? I didn't see it. So this one would need to be added to it's not on there already. I just want to make sure I make a note that we may not had it. Thank you. Yeah. What I what I want to point out is that this is
122consolidated. This is um considering Ohio revised code guidance by the department of education board policy sample provided by OSBA also in consideration of other school districts policies. I did have a chance to look over the Akran city schools policy. There are some things that are of merit in that policy that we may want to consider in our second read because what I have put together for you is I think I think it pertains to every part of the discussion and the questions that the board had just a little while ago during this meeting. I think it's pretty comprehensive, but I do think it it stands a reason that we could add some things to it from some other policies. I do want to point out the sections of it. There's a definition section that is
123consistent with Ohio revised code. Um it also includes the differentiation between personal electronic communications equipment which includes a cell phone and personal electronic devices which do not necessarily have the ability to communicate. School building, school day and school grounds like I had said earlier are also defined here. And then when you look at the next section, it says personal electronics, communication equipment, and peeds that are governed by this policy include are not limited to. As I talked about earlier, I've taken out the specific references to brands. We do not promote brands. We don't need to. We can still refer to those devices as to what they are without including that specific information about the branding. Um, in bold it says students are prohibited from using any of the personal electronics devices and peeds listed above
124during the school day. Uh, I already see that that should include the personal communication equipment rather than it may be correct on yours. Yeah, I think it might be, but it has to be changed to personal electronics communication equipment and peeds listed above during the school day. And then it goes on to explain um when those can be used and the different circumstances when they can I say can be used and they cannot be used. But again I think it suffices as a as a first read and it's probably needs to be added to with some specifics from some other sources. Um I have a question. Has this been when after this can we get this over to legal? Certainly not. Make sure I didn't know if this one had already been through. Has not.
125Okay. So, that's that was my Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. Any other comments? Right. It just has the previous information on it. It needs to be changed to draft. Yes. Well, thank you so much, Mr. Morrison, for your work on this. Mr. Sm. You're welcome. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you, Mr. B. If I can make a comment not specific to this or either policy tonight. Um, I think we need to really assess how we're going to do policy because in a normal update if there are 15 or 20 policies, we spend about three hours tonight on two required policies with sample language given. Um, we still don't have one of them approved, which is the second meeting doing that. The first one took us about an hour and 35 minutes to get there. that this
126is this is not a practical format in my opinion and it's I think dangerous to try to edit and modify policy that hasn't been reviewed by legal on the fly uh without doing analysis and some things like that. So I just want to express some of those uh concerns because as we know policy is very important. It's one of the primary functions of the board to do that. Um, but I felt like we were kind of grasping to get to an answer tonight. Dy noted and I agree 100%. I think that this needs to be condensed more. Um, and as a board, I think we need to be be better prepared. If I could ask um I know I mentioned in the last board meeting and I don't know if this is something where we
127could have legal come or send a um or even get OSBA to provide any case law where like these changes I had specific specifically asked and this is how we did it prior to this particular board. We would if we had changes and things like that or things we wanted to have suggested, it would all be a part of board docs and everyone would look at it prior to the board meeting. It wouldn't be some we would discuss it here, but we all would have it in advance. Am I am I wrong? That's what we used to do like we did it with the handbook. We've done it with the policies. So, am I wrong when I say that? I'm I'm asking. Okay. questions or comments about um policies were brought to the attention prior
128to the meeting and then that would be included in board doc. So then when we discuss those things it wouldn't be we would share an email it would go to our admin person who's managing the policies. So I think there was some confusion on the last board meeting u Mr. President regarding what we can and can't do and I know we've done it in the past but I want to make sure we're in compliance and maybe if we could get um an opinion or like that to read at our next board meeting and as Mr. uh group uh Mr. Superintendent mentioned have that as our best practice going forward on how we manage and approve our policies. Yeah, absolutely. Sounds good. All right, on to Germany. So moved. Have Mrs. Burger as first, Mrs. Gray
129as second. Roll call. Roll call, please. Miss Gray, I. Mr. Bower, I. Miss Alderberger, I. 9:47, we are journed.