Murphy – Cherokee County Board of Education member Jeff Tatham was alone in his concerns about three policy revisions coming before the board July 18.
In all, 16 policies were presented to the board for a first reading, of which 15 passed muster and will come back to the board for a final vote. Some policies include parental involvement, technology use, student promotion and accountability, graduation requirements, staff student relations, concussion and head injury, licensure and administering medicines to students.
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Tatham objected to a $30 technology fee the district charges students. While acknowledging the district doesn’t have a lot of money, he said imposing tech fees on students is not done by neighboring counties.
Tatham also wondered if students who provide their own computers would still be subject to the tech fees.
Tatham also objected to a Parental Involvement policy covering instruction on gender identity, sexual activity and sexuality. The existing policy restricts such instruction for grades kindergarten through 12th grade. The revision changes it to kindergarten through fourth grade. The board agreed to keep the K-12 policy in place.
However, Tatham saved his most vocal opposition to the district’s school assignment policy.
Cherokee County Schools allow children to attend schools outside their home districts, but they have to reapply each year to remain at out-of-district schools.
“I have concern that families from year to year don’t know where they’re going to go,” Tatham, who is running for re-election, told the school board.
Tatham said he would prefer no out-of-district placements at all over requiring families to reapply every year.
Board Chair Shannon Raper disagreed, saying in-district children should get priority – and if a child seeks a spot at a school outside their district, it should be allowed only if space, faculty and funding are available.
Raper said she likes the year-to-year application procedure, even with the risk that room may not always be available.
“As a parent, they have to understand that’s a possibility,” she said.
Of the 16 policies presented for first readings, 15 were approved to come back in August for a final reading. The School Assignment Policy (Policy Code 4150) will come back for further discussion. The district’s principals will be polled for their thoughts on the policy and their feedback will be taken into consideration.
Both approaches have merit, board member Steve Coleman said. It would be best to “listen to those who do the job” before making a final decision.