School Board members from across the state learned about new school-related laws at the Annual TSBA Summer Law Institute.
TSBA President and White County School Board Vice Chairman Jayson McDonald said this year’s biggest legislative change came through the mobile device law, which bars students from using their phones during instructional time. McDonald said the biggest takeaway is that not all schools enforce new laws the same.
“I know Putnam County and Warren County and other areas are you know, strictly prohibiting all cell phone usage, locking them up in bags,” McDonald said. “We didn’t take it that far in White County, but some districts are doing, you know, what they think’s best for their students’ educational plan.”
McDonald said one new law prevents school boards from removing library materials on the basis of religion. Another law covered was a bill requiring elementary school students get 40 minutes of daily recess, and older students need 90 minutes of physical activity each week.
McDonald said school boards must now have a policy allowing at least one non-voting member to join the school board, although it is not required this member joins. Some school districts are using this place to add a student representative to the board.
McDonald said another big takeaway from the session was that Tennessee schools have recently been doing a better job at tracking student success and getting them ready for the real world.
“I think we’re doing a lot of things well as far as preparing our high school students and middle school students, getting them ready to get out in the workforce once they graduate,” McDonald said. “Whether it be post secondary education or a trade school, or getting a certificate they can use in a career that they decide to after graduating high school.”
McDonald said events like the Summer Law Institute is important for school board members to attend because they provide insight on the latest legislation. In addition, McDonald said board members who attend are also fulfilling education requirements.
“As board members, we’re required to have seven hours of training each year to stay up current on all the items that are going on within education,” McDonald said.
McDonald said 460 school board members attended last week’s two-day event in Gatlinburg. Another TSBA Law Institute session will take place in Jackson in August.