As the school year nears its final quarter, the BASD Facilities Committee reports plans to immediately start construction on the Fountain Hill ES when classes end. There will be a final walk-through for residents and former students who would like to see the existing school one last time. Date to be announced.

Chief Facilities Officer Mark Stein announced the April 7 rollout for a new application for parents and guardians to locate the bus their child is riding, and when it is arriving at its stop.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Maureen Leeson described to the Curriculum Committee the comprehensive educational plan that includes adult training for staff, as well as goals and objectives for students. Commonality throughout courses is a specific goal — teaching children to categorize and summarize regardless of the subject. This plan is reviewed yearly.

Broughal MS Assistant Principal Nicole Bouhana told the committee there is no district-wide student cellphone policy, and board President Michael Faccinetto said the protocols are “all over the place.”

“Individual teachers, schools and grades within the district make their own rules and there’s no guidance from the top,” said Faccinetto. The board is considering a no-phone policy for younger grades and will continue conversations at future meetings to establish what this would look like. This discussion came after a middle school teacher seemingly tried to wrestle a phone out of a student’s hands recently. A video of the altercation was posted online and the district continues to investigate.

The next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. April 22, at East Hills MS.