Richland Board discusses cell phone use; hears review of Sp Ed Program

Board of Education members from Richland Schools struggled Thursday night with the same issue neighboring districts have faced in recent weeks as they work on putting in place specific guidelines for students with regard to cell phone and electronic equipment use on school property.

It's an issue that all school districts are facing this year. While some districts have policies in place, specifics seem to be ever-changing along with technical advancements.

"A policy put into place today may not hold up tomorrow, as quickly as technology is advancing," explained Richland Superintendent Mike Kiehne, as board members considered the wording of a regulation pertaining to cell phone and electronic equipment use that was to be included in the 2008-09 student handbook that is placed in the hands of all Richland students.

Elementary Principal Lori Scheeter presented a suggested change for the handbook to reflect the school's policy on the possession and use of such devices on school property. Members of the board, who felt that the rules regarding cell phones and electronics should be altered to allow the devices on campus under certain circumstances, were hesitant to approve the blanket policy as presented.

Following considerable discussion on the subject, board members opted to table the issue until the August meeting. In the meantime, mention of the regulation will be omitted from the student handbooks and will be addressed as a separate issue once school begins in August.

Cindy Rhodes, Supervisor of Special Education at Richland Schools, addressed Thursday night's meeting and presented the district's Special Education Program Evaluation. The annual report outlines Richland's standing, as required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, in a six-year plan that includes targets for student performance indicators and improvement activities designed to enable districts and the state to meet those targets. Rhodes presented the board with a district profile of Richland's Special Education Program. Although data from the 2007-08 school year will not be available until late fall, Rhodes presented findings based on prior years through 2006-07, with regard to Richland students who attend school with an IEP (Individual Education Plan).

Data collected from the survey are included in the Missouri School Improvement Program's evaluation, which is scheduled to take place at Richland during the year 2011.

Faculty workshops for Richland staff members will take place on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, August 11-13 in anticipation of students beginning the school year on August 14.

A Student Orientation Day is slated for Wednesday, August 6, at which time school pictures will be taken and parking tags for high school drivers will be issued.

"We'll also have a counselor on hand to deal with any rescheduling issues," said Scheeter.

Bids were accepted from Prairie Farms and from Interstate Brand Sales Corporation for bread and milk suppliers for the coming school year.

"We are part or the Stoddard County Activities Association," explained Kiehne, "which grants us more competitive bidding power, and so we feel that we got the best possible choice here."

In other business Thursday evening, board members:

* agreed that there would be no price hike for student or staff meals.

* approved the 2008-09 bus route schedule.

* approved handbook alterations, with the exception of those pertaining to cell phone and electronic device usage.

* approved of the annual Secretary of the Board report.

* reset the August meeting to take place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 19.

* approved of 6:45 p.m. on August 19 to hold a tax rate hearing. The hearing will precede the regular August meeting of the board, which was moved from august 21 to accommodate vacationing board members.

* recognized Bud Shell Ford for providing the district with a vehicle with which to conduct a Driver's Education Program over the summer.