The Montgomery County School Board aims Tuesday to adopt state-mandated policy changes on topics including student cellphone use, student drug overdoses, crisis management, school safety and more.
The board’s regular session will begin at 7 p.m. in the county government center, 755 Roanoke St., Christiansburg.
On July 29, school board members took a first look at the policy changes stemming from the 2025 General Assembly session. They will vote on final adoption Tuesday.
Changes include the following:
- Student cellphone use: New language specifies that device use is prohibited from the first morning bell to the dismissal bell at the day’s end; adds devices such as smart watches and tablets; specifies that a policy violation by itself cannot lead to suspension or expulsion without being tied to an instance of disruptive behavior; and specifies that students on a limited English proficiency plan can use a device.
- Athletics: New language will require athletes to submit a report certifying receipt of a physical examination that is conducted within 14 months before the report is signed.
- Crisis and emergency plans: There are new requirements to establish response plans for cardiac, athletic or bleeding emergencies and promoting student athletes’ safety during extreme heat, along with a requirement to make available materials on response to student threats of violence.
- Student health: If a student experiences a school-connected drug overdose, a parent must be notified within 24 hours after a school principal, law enforcement or a health professional becomes aware of it; a student with a seizure disorder can possess seizure rescue medication in school and at school events, if a seizure management plan for the student is on file.
- School safety: There is a new requirement to have an evaluation of indoor air quality measures at least every four years.
- Hiring: Schools cannot employ anyone convicted a crime of moral turpitude or sexual offense against a child; however, they may employ a person with a felony conviction if the person has had their civil rights restored by the governor; has completed terms of supervision; is deemed by the school board to be of good character; has demonstrated commitment to community service and rehabilitation; and the school board certifies the above in writing.
- Substitutes: The amount of time a substitute teacher can be hired to fill a teacher vacancy has doubled to 180 days.
- Autism: Training is now required for personnel who interact with students on the autism spectrum.
- Career and technical education: New language states that a middle school or high school can establish career and technical education student organizations, except if the organization is a federally chartered corporation.
- Math: New language sets the criteria for students in grades five through eight to participate in advanced or accelerated math programs.
- Student records: A student, parent or foster parent can request to keep their home address out of educational records.
- Admissions: New language allows admission of a student who doesn’t live in the school district if a parent is full-time active duty military.
- Purchasing: New language specifies that any purchasing policy for information technology must conform with state law.
Other business
The board also will get an update on 20 facility projects that took place during the summer, ranging from building renovations and roof and window replacements to parking lot paving, classroom painting and more.
Also, members will review a proposal to provide annual pay boosts for employees with state-issued licenses that are relevant to facilities and maintenance. Licensed electricians, plumbers and heating, ventilation and air conditioning workers would get $3,000 or $2,000, at a cost of $18,000 for six people; licensed Class C contractors would get $1,500, at a cost of $3,000 for two people; those licensed for inspection sticker certification would get $750, at a cost of $3,750 for five people. The program would cost a total of $24,750.
You can find meeting documents at https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/mcps/Board.nsf/Public.
