Policies up for Consideration at Tonight's School Board Meeting

Paulding School Board members tonight could show their support toward the creation and/or redrawing of state legislative districts that would place a district wholly or largely within the borders of Paulding County. The Paulding County Board of Commissioners last month .

“If we had a situation with the rapid growth of Paulding’s community to have our own representation within the borders of Paulding, I think that would be beneficial to everyone,” Associate Superintendent Brian Otott said Tuesday morning. “It originally was brought up by the Board of Commissioners, and we’ll be passing the resolution as well.”

A proposed policy first brought to the board in March could receive final approval. Board members in March , which defines bullying, spells out reporting procedures of bullying incidents and lays out disciplinary actions. Otott said the policy being brought to board members tonight has been modified since March, with the modifications aimed at simplifying the policy.

The district has until Aug. 1 to adopt such a policy under state law. O.C.G.A. § 20-2-751.4 says that school systems must adopt a policy that prohibits bullying and addresses several issues surrounding it, such as notifying students and parents of anti-bullying rules and disciplinary procedures when the rules are violated.

The board tonight also will consider a revision to Policy GAN on employee tobacco use. If enacted, district employees would be banned from using any tobacco products on school or county property; Otott said the policy’s current ban only covers smoking.

Tonight’s meeting also will see several student and staff recognitions, according to the agenda posted online.

The board will meet at 6:15 p.m. in the central office boardroom.