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Kent County Public Schools board meeting, Jul 13, 2026

3 h 44 min · 0 public speakers

Chronic absenteeism ▶ 1:14:15AI in schools ▶ 3:11:46Phones in school ▶ 1:19:35Reading and test scores ▶ 2:04:21

This board doesn’t post agenda times. Click a board member to jump to where they first speak; we list only members whose voice our check named. Video length 3 h 44 min.

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What happened

What happened at this meeting

Kent County school board approves cell phone policy and special needs bus purchase 1:32:49

  • The Kent County Board of Education approved a student cell phone policy after discussion of a state law requiring phone-free school days and a pilot at the middle school. 1:19:39
  • Staff also presented a volunteer procedure update and a first read of a new emerging technology policy. 1:43:08
  • Staff presented spring local assessment data for school year 25⁠-⁠26 and said Renaissance Star assessments will be used for grades K through 8 beginning in school year 26⁠-⁠27, followed by board questions on the strategic plan. 2:05:13
  • The board unanimously approved the purchase of a special needs bus for $172,795. 3:09:24

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Item by item (11)
  1. Item 1:42
    • The board voted to go into closed session for personnel matters, legal advice, pending litigation and collective bargaining negotiations. 2:07
    • Trish McGee reported that no action was taken in closed session and welcomed the new student member, who led the Pledge of Allegiance. 1:08:55
    • The consent agenda included minutes of the June 8th and June 15th meetings, a donation approval, a policy series update, Citizens Advisory Committee membership and personnel actions. 1:11:27
    • The agenda and the closed session motion passed 4⁠-⁠0, and the consent agenda was approved unanimously. 2:07
  2. Superintendent's report and attendance 1:12:16
    • The superintendent introduced a new assistant superintendent and invited officials to sign the ratified negotiated agreement with the administrators association, along with meet and confer contracts. 1:12:16
    • The superintendent reported a system-wide attendance average of 94.1%, up 1.82% from the previous year, and 97% attendance at the middle school. 1:15:23
    • John Queen asked where community schools funding comes from, and the superintendent said the money comes through Blueprint legislation and functions as restricted funds. 1:17:19
  3. Student cell phone policy 1:19:35
    • The superintendent said House Bill 525 requires school systems to implement a phone-free day by the fall of 2027 and that the middle school will pilot phone pouches next year. 1:19:39
    • A speaker asked about staff phones, and the superintendent said that would need to be worked out with the union. 1:22:31
    • One board member said the policy was completely fair and asked whether the restriction applies in hallways; a staff member said it does under the new state law, which covers bell to bell with exceptions such as medical needs. 1:28:21
    • The board approved the cell phone policy unanimously. 1:32:49
  4. Volunteer procedure update 1:33:10
    • The volunteer coordinator reported an assessment of all 5 schools and an estimated 100 to 200 volunteers in the schools. 1:34:33
    • A staff member said the updated procedure sets Tier 1, Tier 2 and one-time exception volunteer categories and adds out-of-county field trips to the Tier 2 definition. 1:43:08
    • Laura McKenzie asked about background checks and approval timelines; staff said Tier 2 fingerprinting is done at least every 5 years and a digital system could come potentially in the spring semester. 1:52:04
  5. Student service learning procedure 2:01:43
    • A staff member said revisions to Procedure 625 align it with updated 2026 state service learning guidance and terminology. 2:01:56
  6. Spring local assessment data 2:04:21
    • Staff reported pre-K established early literacy skills rose from 51% to 80% and district grades 3 through 8 reached 37% at the highest MAP ELA levels in spring 2026. 2:07:14
    • Staff set goals for a minimum 4% increase in ELA and math proficiency on Renaissance Star assessments by June 2027. 2:24:47
    • Laura McKenzie asked how to account for gaps between some student group results and the strategic plan and whether more resources were needed; a staff member said the state will provide instructional coaching in mathematics next year. 2:34:19
  7. Monthly expenditure and revenue report 3:05:43
    • A staff member said the Fund 5 food service account showed a loss pending the June state meals reimbursement and still had about $115,000 of fund balance. 3:06:32
    • The staff member said the roof has a final walkthrough scheduled for July 21st. 3:06:58
  8. Special needs bus purchase 3:09:24
    • The director of operations and transportation requested approval to purchase a 2027 Thomas C2 special needs bus for $172,795, saying some buses have reached about 250,000⁠-⁠260,000 miles. 3:09:24
    • The director said the bus seats 40 passengers with room for wheelchairs and delivery is hoped for at the beginning of the school year. 3:10:53
    • The board approved the bus purchase unanimously. 3:11:27
  9. Emerging technology policy first read 3:11:52
    • The director of IT presented a first read of a policy setting requirements before emerging technologies such as AI are used, citing Senate Bill 720. 3:11:59
    • One board member asked that the policy express an intent to partner with parents and guardians. 3:15:27
    • A staff member said modifications involving parents would be made and the policy brought back at the next meeting. 3:16:36
  10. Citizens Advisory Committee policy 3:16:53
    • Laura McKenzie reported the committee recommended adding community school coordinators, raising membership from 13 to 18, and allowing a 3rd 2-year term. 3:17:56
    • A staff member said the committee advised against removing term limits and instead recommended a maximum of 3 terms, and staff said a revised policy would be brought back in August. 3:27:00
  11. Item 3:35:13
    • Eamon Lindsay recognized students who attended summer programs and fall athletic teams. 3:35:19
    • One board member welcomed the new HR director and said the new middle school is needed. 3:39:29
    • Laura McKenzie said that at a board of directors meeting on July 9th, a policy was approved to establish a federal advocacy committee as a standing committee in MABE. 3:40:42
    • The board voted unanimously to adjourn, with the next meeting set for Monday, August 10th. 3:43:01

Written by software from the meeting's transcript and checked sentence by sentence against it.

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Video: posted by the district as “Kent County Public Schools Board of Education Meeting, July 13th, 2026”