The United South Central Schools refinished a gym floor and added a new logo and words on the end line over the summer.

The United South Central School Board, at their meeting on Aug. 20, took the first step towards enacting a revised cell phone policy for the district.

“We are required by the State to enact a cell phone policy by March of 2025,” superintendent Taylor Topinka said. “The Minnesota School Board Association’s model policy includes some basic language on the district’s ability to adopt a cell phone policy, and we will aim to include our in-house cell phone guidelines as an addendum to the policy.”

This was the first reading of the revised policy. The goal is to approve the policy in September and work on enacting the policy on Oct. 1.

Under the revised policy, USC is recommending that cell phones not be brought to the school building/campus. Students are encouraged to leave cell phones or other electronic devices, including smartwatches, and earbuds/air pods at home.

If students choose to bring a cell phone/device to school, the devices are not allowed to be used, visible, or audible during each school day from 8:20 a.m. until 3:06 p.m. This includes all instructional time, passing time, lunch breaks, activity times, etc.

Students who bring cell phones to school will be required to turn them off or put them in airplane mode. They must then be stored in YONDR Pouches, which have been purchased and supplied by the district.

Once devices are placed in one of the pouches and closed, they cannot be opened again without a magnet which will be supplied by the school.

Students will not be allowed to use their phones to call or text individuals during the school day. A telephone is located in the office which is available for student use.

Consequences will be in place for violation of the policy.

One School Board member wondered if the parents of students will have more problems with the policy than the students themselves.

Board member Diana Brooks had a question about cell phone use on field trips.

“Will students be able to take and use cell phones on field trips? she asked. “They get to see some very cool stuff and may want to be able to take pictures.”

Topinka replied that Brooks had raised a good point and that a policy will have to be developed to address that question.

The board proceeded to take action to approve the purchase of 510 YONDR Pouches and eight unlocking bases at a cost of $15,783.

“We believe we will have enough pouches to cover grades four through 12,” Topinka commented.

During his report to the board, Topinka stated that the last two weeks before the start of school were crunch time.

“It is an exciting time to see people coming back into the school building,” Topinka commented. “The work on the gym floor and the stadium seating is complete and work on the new playground has begun.”

Topinka announced that when the filings closed for the School Board election, only the three incumbents, Chris Lutteke, Mike Schrader and Brad Heggen, had filed to run in the November election.

Elementary principal Jennifer Taylor reported that details are being finalized for the back-to-school elementary open house.

“Classrooms are being set up, copies are made and boxes are in the process of being delivered,” Taylor said. “We are gearing up. It is the most wonderful time of the year.”

She also shared that the elementary is fully staffed for the upcoming school year.

“We only need to hire one or two more non-licensed workers,” Taylor added.

High school principal Jen Bye noted that sports practices were underway and that activities director Joe Kuechenmeister reported that student participation is nearly equal to last year.

“Mrs. Taylor and I have been working diligently on the Back to School Workshop Week for staff members,” Bye told the board. “All staff will be in the building on Monday, Aug. 26, starting with a staff breakfast which will be followed by a welcome session and new training in the auditorium.”

Bye announced that the high school open house will be held on Aug. 28, from 3:30-7:30 p.m.

The board also:

• Reached a memorandum of understanding with the USC Education Support Personnel Association establishing revisions to the transportation salary which will increase the hourly wage to $25 per hour. The agreement still needs union approval.

• Voted to approve the USC Student Handbook, the USC Activities Handbook and the USC Crisis Management Plan for the 2024-25 school year.

• Approved three Virtual Learning Days for the upcoming school year.

• Approved the teacher mentor list for the 2024-25 school year. The mentors will be Kim Gormley, Adam Walker, Kirstyn Wegner, Terri Seedorf, Sheila Rame and Pierre Stencil. Those being mentored are Gianni Alm, Amanda Fiorentino, Lynette Vogelsang, Parker Haug and Sam Landsteiner.

• Approved the creation of a salaried fleet maintenance position which will take effect on Sept. 1.

• Approved the addition of one full-time equivalent elementary teacher for the 2024-25 school year.