The Columbia County Board of Education voted on Code of Conduct updates, building projects and textbook adoptions at its regular session on Tuesday, March 14.
District administration had conferred with stakeholders to suggest two changes to the Code of Conduct and brought suggestions before the board so the changes could be applied before the end of the school year to avoid delays in the publishing of the handbook.
Students who had registered before the Code of Conduct handbook was completed had to register a second time after it was updated.
“Historically, this handbook would be published after statewide changes were signed into law, which is what caused the recurring registration process,” said James Van Meter, chief information officer for the district.
One item was the expansion of a rule regarding electronic devices. Students are currently prohibited from having devices such as phones or tablets out or in use unless expressly permitted by school personnel. The update adds earbuds to the list of prohibited electronic equipment, as well as detention or Saturday school as penalties.
Though those punishments were suggested to avoid students missing class time via in-school suspension, the offense carries the “possible recommendation for long-term suspension.”
The second item places limits on terms at county alternative schools. Students who have been suspended for more than 10 days, or are returning from the criminal justice system, may enroll in alternative schools.
The update in the code, however, would limit these opportunities to three times while attending middle and high school. Associate Superintendent Penny Jackson told the school board that this suggestion comes admit school administration noticing repeat offenders.
“We feel like three times over that seven-year period would be enough, and that we would need to look for other options to help guide our students to make better decisions,” Jackson said.
The school board unanimously voted in favor of the Code of Conduct updates.
The board approved the adoption of English language arts (ELA) materials for high school grades by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH). The board had tabled this item during its last meeting, in which it approved the adoption of HMH English textbooks for grades 6 – 8, and AP language and literature textbooks for grades 6 – 12 by publisher Bedford, Freeman and Worth.
The price for these combined adoption is more than $4 million, which, Superintendent Steven Flynt noted to the school board, is below the $6 million budgeted for the purchase.
“This ELA adoption will also provide a very consistent and vertically aligned resource that will provide teachers the necessary tools to support our [Academic Curriculum for Excellence],” Flynt said.
The board also approved a bid by Evans-based Blair Construction to complete inside work at North Columbia Elementary School in Appling, for more than $6 million.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
