NL School Board Approves Cellphone Policy

The New London school board met in regular session on July 15, 2024 with Lindsay Porter absent. The meeting was called to order by Vice President Kyle Helmerson. No one addressed the board in open forum, and they approved the agenda and the consent agenda.

Fall sports fundraisers were first. The board approved apparel sales for the football, volleyball, and cross-country teams. They also approved parking lot spots and a lift-a-thon for football.

In reports, Superintendent Wahls shared the custodial staff and maintenance completion of summer cleaning and repair. There are still a few outstanding projects to be completed before the start of school. He also informed the Board about a PLC Institute that several elementary teachers, Mr. Palmatier, and himself will be attending at the end of the month. He will also be attending the SAI School Administrators of Iowa Conference on Aug. 7 and 8.

In board business, the coaches’ handbook and its changes and areas of emphasis were addressed by first-year AD Austin Burns. He discussed physicals, evaluations, and preseason meetings. It also included the expectation that only athletes and coaches will ride to and from any events as per Mr. March’s (transportation director) guidelines. The coaches’ handbook was approved by the board.

Becky Hays discussed complaints she has received about coach’s children being at practice/open gym. AD Burns will look into the situation.

Freedom Counseling Services were proposed at the same rate as the previous year. Mr. Wahls shared the impact that these services have had for several students over the past three years. The services will be paid from Title IV funds since last year was the final year of the Mental Health Grant that had funded these services. It was approved.

The district’s cellphone policy was discussed next. It was presented to the board by Mr. Palmatier and Mr. Kracht. The district is moving to a policy that doesn’t allow cellphones/personal electronics during the school day.

With the recognition that cellphones can be a safety measure getting to and from school, the district proposed the following plan:

The policy was unanimously approved. Garnering much discussion, Jen Loyd questioned whether the students are being taught proper use of cellphones. Mr. Kracht feels the teachers are supportive of the policy, as phones have become truly intrusive.

The list of behaviors and discipline are specific to the Middle School/High School building. It lists discipline issues and levels of consequences for various offenses. Parents and students will be provided with this list at school registration. This was unanimously approved. Cellphones are not currently an issue at the elementary.

The board took the following actions:

The last item was the superintendent’s goals. IASB standards are used in the evaluation process for the Superintendent. In addition, the board has developed three personal goals for the superintendent. They include the following and were approved:

The meeting then adjourned. The next regular meeting of the New London school board is Aug. 19, 2024 at 6 p.m. at the north campus boardroom.