CCS’s 2022-23 handbooks gain school board nod
Four handbooks containing policies of Chase County Schools were approved for the 2022-23 year, and the adopted versions have some changes.
Action came at the July 12 board of education meeting when activities, student/parent, teacher and classified employee handbooks were approved
Changes made to the student handbook draft touched on extracurricular eligibility and the age of non-students attending dances.
There will no longer be a week of probation if a student has a lower grade than 70% in two classes.
“We used to have that probationary week, but no more,” said Supt. Adam Lambert.
Last year, if a student had two classes with grades below 70%, he or she was given a week to bring up the grades.
Now, grades will be reviewed every Monday morning and if a student has two classes below 70%, he/she is ineligible to participate that week (Tuesday midnight to the following Tuesday at midnight).
Ineligible students will be allowed to practice with their athletic/activity groups that week, but some board members questioned that.
Board members Willy O’Neil and Linsey Foote wondered whether the ineligible student should be working on their classwork instead of practicing.
“If we have an ineligible student, wouldn’t the goal be to get them eligible so in lieu of practice shouldn’t they be working with the teachers on classes they’re behind on?” O’Neil asked.
“I agree. If they can’t play, shouldn’t they be in the classroom working to get their grades up?” Foote asked.
After the discussion, the statement about practicing will read they “may” practice instead of they “will.”
There was also discussion on reviewing the list of ineligible students.
Instead of the statement in the draft reading, “The list of ineligible students will be subject to review by the principal, guidance counselor and teachers,” it will instead read “a committee of” those people.
There was concern the way it was written that one of those individuals could overrule whether a student was ineligible.
Under the “students conduct and dances” section, there was a slight change on dance attendance.
The draft read, “Persons who are younger than 16 or older than 20 years of age and not attending high school are generally considered to not be appropriate dates or invited guests for our school dances.”
The section will add at the end, “and cannot attend.”
It was emphasized the age range applies only to those not attending CCS. Last year’s handbook also had the maximum age at 19, which was upped to 20 for the non-CCS students.
Also added in the activities handbook were “vape devices” under the prohibited substances section.
In the student handbook, a slight change was made on appropriate clothing.
The following was added: “Clothing that has a hood including, but not limited to coats, hoodies, long-sleeved T-shirts etc. may be permitted, but the hood/head covering is not allowed to be over a student’s heads anytime during the school day.”
All four handbooks with the changes discussed, gained 5-0 approval.
Supt. Lambert noted incoming 7-12 principal Christopher Barr also reviewed all four handbooks.
Other business
The board approved a pair of concrete repair projects at the southeast and northwest school entrances.
The estimate from Martin Doolittle for the southeast entrance by the concession stand
is $8,486.10 and the northwest entry project is $10,340.47.
Several school policies were updated based on changes in state law, and recommended by the school’s attorney.
They deal with Title IX, COVID funds, increases to the dollar figure when bids are required, substitute teachers and special education.
One of the other changes now requires persons addressing the board to state their name, address and any organization they represent.
Another requires schools to have agendas posted at least 24 hours before a meeting and that agendas and minutes be posted for at least 6 months after. Supt. Lambert said CCS now does both.
Aug. 29 was set for the board’s retreat to develop goals and review the CCS mission statement.