COUNT SCHOOLS
1007
Misty Shelton
Director of Accountability
Hickman County Schools
115 Murphree Avenue
Centerville, Tennessee 37033
To: School Board Members
From: Misty Shelton
Date: July 2022
1st Reading: changes are either marked through or highlighted on current policies
attached
Policy 1.102 - Board Members
Public Chapter 809 revises the qualifications for school board candidates. State law now requires
that candidates be a qualified voter and resident in the county for one year prior to the
qualifying deadline for running as a candidate. This provision appears to solely apply to county
districts.
Policy 2.806 - Bids and Quotations- no changes-already in policy that HCSS follows the HC
government under the Act of 81.
More school boards will be able to increase their bidding threshold based on Public Chapter 1016.
Boards can choose to increase the threshold to $25,000. The threshold can further be increased to
$50,000 if the district has a centralized purchasing authority with a full-time purchasing agent and
the Board votes to increase the limit.
Additionally, a new state law changes bidding requirements for insurance providers. Per Public
Chapter 719, services from insurance providers are exempt from bidding requirements.
Policy 3.202 - Emergency Preparedness Plan
School districts are now required to conduct at least one virtual learning drill each year per Public
Chapter 936.
Policy 4.101 - Instructional Standards
Policy update to clarify that complaints regarding alleged violations of TCA 49-1-302 regarding
prohibited concepts are required to comply with the complaint process outlined by the TN
Department of Education's temporary emergency rule. Please note that the regulation below will
931-729-3391 ext. 2226
misty.shelton@hickmank12.org
fax 931-729-3834
The Hickman County School System does not discriminate in its educational programs, activities, or employment practices on the basis of race, sex, national
origin, religion, creed, age, marital status, or disability as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, and
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. All necessary accommodations are made for equitable participation by constituents without regard to race, gender,
disability, economic status, or special needs as required by Section 427 of the General Education Provision Act & P.L. 107-110-NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND.
change as the Department of Education implements a permanent regulation. Once the Department
releases a final regulation, TSBA will send any recommended changes.
Additionally, TSBA added clarifying language regarding how complaints may be submitted if materials
are allegedly in violation of Public Chapter 1085.
Policy 4.210 the Credit Recovery- no changes with the newly adopted State Board uniformed grading
scale for 4.600.
The State Board of Education revised the requirements for assigning credit recovery grades. Under
the updated State Board policy, districts utilizing a locally-adopted grading scale that differs from the
uniform grading scale shall assign a letter grade of D to a student passing credit recovery.
Policy 4.212 - Virtual Education Program
Public Chapter 897 allows districts to utilize virtual instruction for up to two days each semester. This
option can only be used in certain scenarios (i.e., severe weather, serious outbreak of illness, and
assessments like EOC exams and ACT).
Policies 4.402 and 4.403 ⑉ Reconsideration of Materials
Public Chapter 744, known as the Age-Appropriate Materials Act, creates new requirements for
Boards. This Act requires school districts to: (1) maintain and post online a current list of the
materials in the school's library collection; and (2) adopt a policy for developing and
reviewing school library collections. This required policy must contain procedures for developing
a library collection, receiving and evaluating feedback, and periodically reviewing the library
collection to ensure that it contains materials appropriate for the age and maturity levels of students
who may access them and that it is suitable for and consistent with the educational mission of the
school.
To assist districts in complying with this law, TSBA has created a new model policy (4.402) and
revised an existing model policy (4.403). Model policy 4.402 contains the process for handling
complaints about textbooks and instructional materials while model policy 4.403 has been reworked
to align with this new state law and focuses solely on library materials. Please note that Boards may
revise these policies to align with local standards. TSBA encourages reaching out to the local board
attorney if there are legal concerns. Additionally, TSBA expects the state Textbook Commission and
Instructional Materials Quality Commission to release further guidance on this topic by December 1st
per Public Chapter 1137.
TSBA recommends placing current board policy 4.202 in an administrative procedure if the Director
feels there is a need to maintain this information. If not, the board could simply decide to remove
current board policy 4.402 from its manual. The board could then renumber its current board policy
4.403 to be numbered as 4.402 and adopt model policy 4.403 regarding library materials.
931-729-3391 ext. 2226
misty.shelton@hickmank12.org
fax 931-729-3834
The Hickman County School System does not discriminate In its educational programs, activities, or employment practices on the basis of race, sex, national
origin, religion, creed, age, marital status, or disability as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, and
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. All necessary accommodations are made for equitable participation by constituents without regard to race, gender,
disability, economic status, or special needs as required by Section 427 of the General Education Provision Act & P.L. 107-110-NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND.
Policy 4.406 - Use of the Internet
Policy updated to align with the requirements of Public Chapter 1002. This new law requires Boards
to have a policy in place regarding complaints about how vendors provide access to online content.
The law requires districts to have a policy specifically allowing these complaints and stating how they
will be handled.
Policy 4.600 - Grading Systems
A new state law changes the grading scale for students in grades 9-12 beginning in the 2022-2023
school year. Instead of using a seven-point scale, grades will now be reported on a ten-point scale
for purposes of application for post secondary financial assistance. The State Board of Education is
expected to update their grading scale policy in response to this legislation, and TSBA will send out
any further recommendations as needed. The recommendation for HCSS would be to use this
grading scale throughout all grades for consistency.
Policies 5.119, 5.200, 5.201, and 5.701 - Employment of Retirees
Due to the increased vacancies across the state, the General Assembly passed Public Chapter 821
- allowing an additional option for employment of retirees to fill these roles. To clarify the options for
employing retirees, TSBA has created model policy 5.119. Additionally, information on retirees has
been removed from 5.200, 5.201, and 5.701 to help provide clarity.
Policy 5.201 - Separation Practices for Non-Tenured Teachers
Public Chapter 678 requires districts to include additional information when providing notices of
non-renewal in certain instances. If a teacher is non-renewed due to the lack of funding for the
position, the non-renewal notice must include that information as the reason for the non-renewal.
Policy 6.200 ⑉ Attendance
Per Public Chapter 878, state law no longer permits the denial of a driver's license due to poor
student academic performance.
Policy 6.204 - Attendance of Non-Resident Students- no change- it is already in policy.
In the past, state law permitted districts to decide whether or not to charge tuition to the child of a
teacher who lived out of the district but wanted to enroll his/her child in the district in which he/she
was employed. Now, Public Chapter 709 expands that discretion to include all employees. As a
result, Boards can choose to allow children of district employees to attend school tuition free even
though they do not live in the school district.
Policy 6.318 - Admission of Suspended or Expelled Students- adopt new policy
931-729-3391 ext. 2226
misty.shelton@hickmank12.org
fax 931-729-3834
The Hickman County School System does not discriminate in its educational programs, activities, or employment practices on the basis of race, sex, national
origin, religion, creed, age, marital status, or disability as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, and
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. All necessary accommodations are made for equitable participation by constituents without regard to race, gender,
disability, economic status, or special needs as required by Section 427 of the General Education Provision Act & P.L. 107-110-NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND.
Previously, state law required that the Commissioner of Education be notified if a district denied
enrollment to a student who had been suspended or expelled from another school district. Public
Chapter 686 removes that notification requirement, and model policy 6.318 has been updated to
reflect that change.
Policy 6.409 - Reporting Child Abuse
Public Chapter 841 narrows the category of individuals who must receive training on child abuse. In
the past, state law required all school personnel to receive this training, but moving forward,
this training will only be required for employees working directly with students.
Additionally, Public Chapter 781 allows employees to first report to the Department of Children's
Services and law enforcement if an alleged instance of child abuse involves someone employed by,
previously employed by, or otherwise affiliated with the school district. The district's Child Abuse
Coordinator must still be notified; however, in those particular instances, they are not required to be
notified until the other entities are contacted.
Policies 1.104 Memberships, 1.105 School Board Legislative Involvement, 1.204 Board
Member Development Opportunities- TSBA recommends removing any mention of the National
School Boards Association from board policy.
Up for Review:
4.500 Community Instructional Resources
4.501 School Volunteers
4.502 Parent and Family Involvement
4.601 Reporting Student Progress
4.6011 Homework
4.602 Class Ranking
4.603 Promotion and Retention
4.605 Graduation Requirements
4.606 Graduation Activities
4.607 Waivers of STatute, Rules and Regulations
4.608 Transcript Alterations
Informational items that do not require any policy changes:
Public Chapter 670 - Board Member Compensation
This law requires that board member compensation for county districts be included in the budget
presented to the county commission.
View this Public Chapter by clicking here.
Public Chapter 707 - Discipline Policies & Cell Phones
931-729-3391 ext. 2226
misty.shelton@hickmank12.org
fax 931-729-3834
The Hickman County School System does not discriminate in its educational programs, activities, or employment practices on the basis of race, sex, national
origin, religion, creed, age, marital status, or disability as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, and
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. All necessary accommodations are made for equitable participation by constituents without regard to race, gender,
disability, economic status, or special needs as required by Section 427 of the General Education Provision Act & P.L. 107-110-NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND.
Public Chapter 707 states that Boards may authorize teachers to withhold a student's cell phone for
the duration of the instructional time if the phone is a distraction to the class or student.
View this Public Chapter by clicking here.
Public Chapter 748 - Suicide Prevention Resources
All districts that issue student IDs are now required to include the number for the National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline and at least one other resource on these cards. This requirement applies to new
ID cards that are issued for grades 6-12. Additionally, this law requires districts to publish the
telephone numbers for these resources in each school.
View this Public Chapter by clicking here.
Public Chapter 951 - Foster Care Liaison
Each school district must designate a foster care liaison to facilitate compliance with state and
federal laws on students in foster care.
View this Public Chapter by clicking here.
Public Chapter 1021 - Human Trafficking Training
Previously, only teachers were required to receive training on the prevention of human trafficking.
Under this new law, however, all employees who work directly with students must receive this
training.
View this Public Chapter by clicking here.
Public Chapter 1075 - Complaints Regarding Antisemitism
This Public Chapter requires schools to evaluate complaints of antisemitism using the definition
adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. We wanted to make districts aware
of this new requirement.
View this Public Chapter by clicking here.
Thank you in advance for your careful consideration of these policies.
931-729-3391 ext. 2226
misty.shelton@hickmank12.org
fax 931-729-3834
The Hickman County School System does not discriminate in its educational programs, activities, or employment practices on the basis of race, sex, national
origin, religion, creed, age, marital status, or disability as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, and
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. All necessary accommodations are made for equitable participation by constituents without regard to race, gender;
disability, economic status, or special needs as required by Section 427 of the General Education Provision Act & P. L.-107-110-NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND.

## Table 1

| 4.500 | Community Instructional Resources |
| --- | --- |
| 4.501 | School Volunteers |
| 4.502 | Parent and Family Involvement |
| 4.601 | Reporting Student Progress |
| 4.6011 | Homework |
| 4.602 | Class Ranking |
| 4.603 | Promotion and Retention |
| 4.605 | Graduation Requirements |
| 4.606 | Graduation Activities |
| 4.607 | Waivers of STatute, Rules and Regulations |
| 4.608 | Transcript Alterations |