Corunna board takes final vote Monday on student cell phone policy

Corunna Public Schools' student cell phone rule reaches its last step Monday night. Policy 5209, "Student Use of Cell Phone and Electronic Communication Devices," is listed for a second reading on the Oct. 19 agenda, with the suggested motion "To approve the policies/forms as presented." A second reading is the stage at which a school board adopts a policy, so if the board votes yes, the rule is in place.

The Current reported Sept. 18 that the same policy led the board's Sept. 21 agenda as a first reading. The agenda itself does not say what the policy requires of students — whether phones go in a pouch, a locker, or simply stay off during class. That text is in the board packet, not the agenda.

Policy 5209 is bundled with 10 others up for final approval, most of them employment rules: non-discrimination, the employment complaint procedure, the Michigan Earned Sick Time Act, employee ethics, drug- and alcohol-free workplace and tobacco restrictions, personal communication devices for staff, administrator non-renewal, and hiring.

Also before the board: a recommendation to acknowledge the resignation of April Woodruff as director of children's services. The agenda does not give an effective date or a reason. It is the second administrative departure the board has handled this school year — The Current reported in August that the Aug. 17 agenda included acknowledging Corunna High School principal Ron Jacobs' resignation.

The district's audit comes to the board the same night, but only as a presentation. The agenda marks the item "This is for discussion only," which means no vote on accepting it Monday, and it does not name the firm or say what the audit found. (Ovid-Elsie's 2025-26 audit went to a finance committee Oct. 14 under the same kind of notice; the desk is still waiting on that district's firm and findings.)

One item does carry money behind it. The board is asked to approve a "31aa Mental Health and Student Safety Opt-in and Waiver Resolution" — the state school-aid section that funds mental health and school safety work. The Current reported in August that Corunna's July 20 agenda included four contracts paid with 31aa grant funds. The agenda posts no dollar figure for the opt-in.

Two informational items close the night with no action attached: a pool building update and a bond update. Corunna voters have the district's 2026 bond work in the background here — the board took up a bond ratifying resolution in July, and three Corunna charter questions are on the Nov. 3 county ballot, separate from the schools.

The meeting also includes October volunteer of the month and employee of the month recognitions; the agenda does not name the honorees.

What happens next: the board meets at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19. The agenda as posted on BoardBook does not list a meeting location. Votes are expected on the consent agenda, the 11 second-reading policies, the Woodruff resignation and the 31aa resolution; six more policies, including student suicide prevention and threat assessment, get a first reading and would return for a vote at a later meeting.