In the midst of summer and with the White County Fair underway, a light Unit 5 School Board agenda was passed through as quickly as the symptoms of a cyclospora outbreak. While nothing explosive occurred at the meeting, its expected there could be some discomfort in the 2026/2027 school year as leaders (minus board President Nathan Whetstone and board member Alex Youngblood who were absent) passed handbook changes for the school year which will implement a wireless communication device policy at the high school in advance of the expected signing of Senate Bill 2427. That bill will require all public-school districts to adopt a policy by the 2027/2028 school year. The bill was sent to Governor Pritzker on June 29th; he has expressed his intent to sign the legislation into law. That’s prompting many area school districts to get a jump on implementing a policy before it’s mandated. Bart King, CWCHS Principal laid out the change.
The final change to our student handbook will be student cell phones and electronic devices. We started this journey, I would say, well over a year ago and just talking among staff and really starting to dig into what was best for our students. So, to foster a learning environment free from distractions, we’ve decided to implement a proactive policy regarding personal electronics. So throughout the regular school day, all students must secure their mobile phones, smartwatches, and listening devices inside a locked Yondr pouch.
Learn more about Yondr pouches at Yondr.
The pouches will be distributed at the beginning of the school year. Students will be permitted to access those devices only during lunch and at the end of the school day. King says it’s about doing what’s best for the kids and that there’s significant research that backs the move. The board unanimously approved the handbook updates.
Leaders recessed into executive session at 6:23pm.
Following executive session Monday night, the school board approved three re-assignments, eight employments pending background screenings and certification, along with a volunteer.
Hannah Winerberger was reassigned from head cook to individual aide at Jefferson Attendance Center. Christina Newman was reassigned from classroom aide to individual aide at Brownsville. Laura Wall was reassigned from a physical education aide to a building secretary at the junior high.
Danielle Shepard has been hired as a morning bus supervisor at Jefferson; Elizabeth Bleeks as morning supervisor at Jefferson; Rebecca Drake as an assistant cook at Jefferson; Keisha Buchanan as an individual aide at Brownsville; Libby McGill as a morning crossing guard at Washington; Alex Maxam as a Junior High special education teacher; Jace Carter as assistant football coach.
Cole Carter was approved as a volunteer high school football coach.