Corunna school board opens cell phone policy debate Monday

Corunna Public Schools' board will take its first look Monday at a policy governing when students can use cell phones and other electronic devices in school. The item is listed on the Sept. 21 agenda as a first reading, which the district notes is "for discussion only" — no vote is scheduled that night.

The policy, numbered 5209, is one of 12 policies in the first-reading batch. The others deal with employees rather than students: a non-discrimination policy, an employment complaint procedure, a policy on the Michigan Earned Sick Time Act, employee ethics standards, personal communication devices, administrator non-renewal and hiring. Also on the list is policy 4209, "Prohibition Against Abortion Referrals and Assistance." The agenda does not include the text of any of the drafts.

A second, larger group of 21 policies and forms is up for final approval the same night, including medication consent and administration forms, service animals, asbestos management, drills and emergency plans, construction bidding, use of district property, and a set of nondiscrimination policies covering Title IX and Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. The agenda calls for a single motion to approve them as presented.

Five personnel recommendations also need a board vote. Superintendent recommendations ask the board to acknowledge the resignations of Olina Mallory, an associate preschool teacher; Lauren Aurand, a paraprofessional at Elsa Meyer Elementary; and Betsy Herrick, the middle school volleyball coach. The board is asked to hire Amber Snow as an associate preschool teacher at Children's Services and Kellie VanderMolen as Corunna Middle School volleyball coach.

Under informational items, the board is scheduled to get a bond update. The Current reported in August that the board's July 20 agenda included a 2026 bond ratifying resolution; the Sept. 21 agenda gives no detail on what the update covers. The curriculum report lists three topics — 35m, AP classes and Shiawassee Scholars — again without attachments.

The meeting opens at 6 p.m. with Cavalier Recognition, including a volunteer of the month and an employee of the month. The agenda does not name either honoree. Public comment comes after the student report; speakers are generally held to three minutes each and 30 minutes total, and must submit a Public Communication Form to the recording secretary before speaking. The board has also posted a closed session under the Open Meetings Act provision that allows a private hearing on a student's dismissal, suspension or discipline when the student or a parent requests one.

What happens next: the board meets at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21. The 21 second-reading policies and the five personnel items can be acted on that night; the 12 first-reading policies, including the student cell phone policy, would return for a vote at a later meeting. The posted agenda does not list a meeting location, and the district had not published the policy drafts as of Friday.