Changes to the North Judson-San Pierre Junior/Senior High School Handbook approved this week by the school board reflect both the consolidation of two buildings into one and the changing times. Principal Jim Polite says next year students will no longer be able to bring backpacks or book bags into classrooms. He says the practice raises safety concerns but it’s been a necessity at N.J.-S.P. because the lockers are too small to hold books and bags and are in bad shape overall. Earlier this year the board approved the purchase of new lockers, which will be installed this summer.
Polite says another policy change addresses an issue that has arisen since middle school students were moved into the high school building. He says they are interacting too much with high school students during passing periods. That will be prohibited in the new handbook.
Another change tweaks the policy for cell phone use in the classroom. Polite says it’s currently at the discretion of individual teachers. The new language will require there to be a valid academic reason for a student to use a cell phone in class.
Additional handbook changes expand the academic integrity section to address copied work and work not done entirely by the student in addition to plagiarism, restrict elevator use to students with a given health concern who are issued a pass and state that students with poor attendance and who are not passing their classes may not be eligible to attend field trips.
The school board approved the policy changes unanimously. Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin says new elementary school principal Julie Berndt will review the handbook and offer recommended changes after she begins her job.
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