FAIRMONT– The Fairmont School Board heard from Dean of Students, Andy Walden, on Tuesday regarding some changes to the high school handbook.

Walden said that seven meetings were held to discuss the 2022-23 handbook. Committee members included Walden, administrators, parents, support staff, teachers and board members. He said each meeting was an hour and a half and good discussions were had.

At Tuesday’s board meeting Walden focused on three of the more significant changes, one of them being the student dress policy.

“We wanted to have less targeting language and more inclusive language and that’s why we revised the policy,” Walden said.

The policy has been divided into three categories: students must wear, students may wear and students cannot wear.

“Probably the most significant change is the hats and hoods. We now have hats and hoods as teacher discretion in the classroom where previously hats and hoods were not allowed in the building during the learning day,” Walden said.

The second major change was an update to the cell phone policy. For 7th and 8th grade students, cell phones need to be turned to silent and stored in lockers during the school day. For students grades 9-12, cell phones need to be turned to silent and stored in the locker during the school day except for lunch time and passing times.

Board Member Julie Laue stressed that consistency is needed for the policy.

“We have to have it so all staff, students and parents, it’s all consistent so there are no gray areas,” Laue said.

Walden said that the change will include a parent education piece and informational sessions at the back to school open house at the end of the summer. He said the focus is to be fully transparent on why the policy is changing.

“Anecdotally I see cell phones as a major inhibitor of student success as well as student development. May is mental health month and I see cell phones as a big concern for student mental health. The driving force behind the policy change is we have to take care of our students,” Walden said.

The final significant change includes the cleaning up of the language in the attendance policy.

Board Member Nicole Green, who is a long-time member of the committee that reviews the handbook, shared that they usually meet thee times a year but met seven times this year to discuss the handbook.

“I feel there has been some substantial, good changes made this year,” Green said.

The board approved of the 2022-23 student handbook.

Superintendent Andy Traetow’s report included an update on the high school’s vocational expansion project. Traetow said that the boiler system is now in place and the retention pond work has begun. He said as the project gets closer to completion, the budget is getting tighter.

“We’re still in good shape with a few added expenses that were not anticipated when construction began,” Traetow said.

Regarding the district’s ESSER funds, Traetow said they received pre-approval for development of the athletic facility entrance at the high school as well as producing an

outdoor learning space. They also received approval to move forward with remodeling a science classroom at the high school.

The board approved the following employments:

— Sarah Larson as an elementary academic support specialist.

— Sandy Malo as a high school special education teacher.

— Hannah Olson as a high school science teacher.

The board accepted the following resignations:

— Matt Lytle, high school special ed teacher.

— Ashley Jones, preschool aide.

— Traci Lardy, instructional coach.

In other news, the board:

— Approved holding just one school board meeting in June and one in July.

–Approved an early release for senior students who are on track and set to graduate. Their last day will be Wednesday, June 1.

— Approved entering into an agreement with EideBailly to complete the district’s audit for the 2021-22 school year for an estimated fee of $31,000.

— Approved a contract with Ideal Energies to move forward with the solar energy agreement for the installation of solar energy systems on the roofs of the high school and elementary school buildings.