FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Fayetteville School Board held its monthly meeting on July 25, kicking off the 2024-25 school year with a number of major agenda item approvals that could shape the course of the new school year.
Updates to Handbook
Ahead of the upcoming school year, administrators made some changes to the handbook, including requiring students to wear badges when on campus and restricting the use of electronic devices.
As for the badges, grades 5-12 will be required to wear identification badges. The high school was already doing this, so the real change is for grades 5-8.
The badges allow staff and faculty to immediately identify students and staff on campus and will be used to swipe on and off buses in order to "ensure accuracy of student location."
"We know that this is a different process for families, but we want everyone to know that this is based on safety and securing our buildings which is on the forefront of our minds all the time," said Courtney Morawski, the Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning.
As for restricting device use, administrators said that the goal is that by January 2025, all K-12 students will be phone free during the instructional day.
Starting in August 2024, K-6 will have no access to devices during the day. Grades 7-12 will have no access during instructional time.
By January, all grades will be phone free. The move is attributed to helping improve student mental health and help students focus during instructional time.
Funding has been approved by the state for the district to purchase locking storage units.
District leaders said that the plan is still in development and that communication to staff and families is underway.
"As we work through the fall, we may run into some hurdles we hadn't anticipated," Superintendent John Mulford said. "We want to remain flexible."
Mulford explained that the move will help mental health and focus on instructional time, adding that almost every expulsion this year can be tied to social media in some way.
The superintendent acknowledged that there are some students that rely on smartphones or other devices for medical reasons, and those students are encouraged to make a plan with their respective principals.
While phones were used as an example throughout the presentation of the plan, the new rules include devices such as smartwatches.
"We know that it's the right thing to do right now based on research," said Morawski, adding that student mental health has become a top priority in Fayetteville schools.
"This is going to be a change, and we know that, and it's going to be uncomfortable. We're all going to have to learn to behave a little differently," Morawski said.
Board president Nika Waitsman spoke in support of the restrictions, saying that the research speaks for itself.
Waitsman described receiving "cries for help" from parents who claim their children's lives had been taken over by social media.
"They need us to partner with them in addressing this crisis," Waitsman said. "I think for us to sit by and do nothing is irresponsible."
"I think it's going to be hard, but I think we all as a community need to come together and do something pretty drastic," Waitsman added.
Waitsman did explain that it's not a policy change, but it will be listed as a guideline in the student handbook.
"It is more of a target, it's a goal, not a rigid rule that we're putting into place," Waitsman explained.
The board voted unanimously to approve the changes to the handbook.
FHS Parking Garage Update
The board has been weighing the option of constructing a parking garage at Fayetteville High School to improve the parking situation.
Deputy Superintendent Julie Williams explained that at a meeting in June, the board voted unanimously to approve a bond resolution to finalize the sale of $115 million in bonds.
The proceeds from the bond sale will be used to construct a new junior high, convert John L Colbert Middle School to a junior high, purchase property for the phase two junior high construction, and to construct a parking deck at Fayetteville High School.
Construction group Hight Jackson was in attendance and presented design plans for the parking garage. No action was taken during this meeting.
Parking has been a persistent problem at the school, sporting only 500 student spots for around 2,600 students.
Mulford previously proposed a three or four tier parking garage that would accommodate students, faculty, and staff. You can read more about the proposed parking garage project here.
Changing Names for Ramay and Woodland
In February, the board approved new feeder patterns to go into effect during the 2027-28 school year. This will include a third junior high and the relocation of the two existing junior highs, Ramay and Woodland.
Two new facilities will be constructed as a result, and John L Colbert Middle School will be converted to a junior high.
During the meeting, the board weighed the option of renaming Ramay and Woodland or keeping them the same.
"It's not a cut and dry decision, there are very valid points on both sides of it," Waitsman said.
After much back and forth, the board decided to table the discussion.
Property Purchase
One agenda item the board weighed was approving the $4 million purchase of two properties for upcoming facilities.
The two properties are a combined 19.7 acres.
"If approved, we'll be closing on those properties in August, and we will get the architect started on schematic design for the second junior high," Mulford said.
The board unanimously approved the purchase.
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