Latest news with #HuntsvilleCitySchools
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Huntsville City School Board passes changes to cell phone policy
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — The Huntsville City Schools Board of Education passed changes to its cell phone policy at a meeting Tuesday night. All members of the board, except District 1 Board Member Andrea Alvarez, voted in favor of making the changes. Policy changes include: Superintendent making sure that any disciplinary action that is imposed is consistent for all students, employees or individuals Blocking or filtering internet access to obscene visual depictions, child sexual abuse material or images harmful to minors Restricting access by minors to inappropriate and harmful material on the Internet; Limiting Internet access by students only to age-appropriate subject matters and materials; Providing specific procedures and other protections that prioritize the safety and security of minors when they are using electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications; Preventing 'hacking' and other forms of unauthorized use of or access to computer or Internet files, sites, databases or equipment; Prohibiting access by students to unlawfully obtained data or information, including 'hacking,' and other unlawful online activity by students; Prohibiting access to websites, web applications, or software that exposes students to the disclosure, use, or dissemination of their personal information; Prohibiting students from accessing social media platforms, unless expressly directed by a teacher for educational purposes; Educating minors about appropriate online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social networking websites and in chat rooms and cyberbullying awareness and response. This comes after Governor Kay Ivey signed the FOCUS Act back in May. It bans smartphones in the classroom. HCS's Code of Conduct prior to this passing already students are allowed to bring, but not use or operate, wireless communication devices. These devices are supposed to be turned off and stored off their person in a locker, car, or other location during the instructional day except under limited circumstances. The definition of an 'instructional day' is: ● When school is open and in session;● During class time, lunch, transitions between classes, and any non-instructional periods;● Any time that students are required to store their Wireless Communication Devices by the Code of Conduct or other school rules; or● Any time students are instructed to store their devices by school staff. The existing policy also says that students who disobey the policy can be disciplined, and students are subject to inspection of their wireless devices if there is reasonable suspicion that the device contains evidence of violation of 'law, Board policy, the Code of Conduct, or other school rules, provided that the nature and extent of such reading, examination, or inspection shall be reasonably related and limited to the suspected violation.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Huntsville City Schools to offer free meals to children during summer learning activities
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – The Huntsville City Schools will offer free meals to students this summer through their Summer Food Service Program. In conjunction with the Alabama State Department of Education, HCS will start the program on June 2. It will run through June 26, during summer learning activities. National TOP COPS Awards honors Huntsville Police officers Every summer, millions of meals are distributed to children and teens at risk of hunger across Alabama. The ALSDE's Child Nutrition Program is aiming for more participants at the Huntsville sites. Alabama's Break for a Plate Summer program has outpaced the growth os similar programs in other states, and there is still a critical need for sponsors. The included summer learning sites are as follows: James Dawson Elementary Farley Elementary Montview Elementary Morris Elementary/Middle Rolling Hills Elementary Sonnie Hereford Elementary Martin Luther King Jr. Elem Whitesburg Elem./Middle Summer learning sites will serve breakfast from 7:30-8:30 a.m., and lunch from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Two external community sites will also be operating from June 2-26. The Richard Showers Recreation Center will serve lunch from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., and Brahan Springs Splash Pad will serve lunch from 1:00-1:45 p.m. For more information about the Summer Food Service Program, call 256-428-6955. To find more information about Break for a Plate Summer, or other child nutrition programs, call 334-694-4659 or visit their website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Yahoo
Former Lee High employee who pleaded guilty to having sex with student begins 10 year sentence
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — A former Huntsville City Schools employee who entered a guilty plea for engaging in a sexual act with a student was sentenced in a Madison County Circuit Court Monday. On May 5, court records show that Duane Edward Yarbrough was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Yarbrough entered a guilty plea for a school employee engaging in a sexual act with a student on April 22. He was indicted on the charge in January 2024 and arrested in February 2024. Jail records showed Yarbrough was released from the Madison County Jail three hours after he was booked with a bond set at $15,000. As part of the plea agreement, he also agreed to pay a fine of $1,000 in each case, as well as pay compensation to the family in the amount of $100. He is also ordered to have no contact with the victim, submit to DNA testing, and comply with all the provisions of the Alabama Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. A Huntsville City Schools spokesperson confirmed to News 19 that Yarbrough was employed by the school system from 2016-2022 and was a JROTC instructor for Lee/New Century High School. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Yahoo
Former Lee High employee pleads guilty to engaging in sex act with student
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — A former Huntsville City Schools employee entered a guilty plea in a Madison County Circuit Court Tuesday, according to court documents. Duane Edward Yarbrough entered a guilty plea for a school employee engaging in a sexual act with a student. Court documents show his sentence has been set for May 5. Yarbrough was indicted on the charge in January 2024 and arrested in February 2024. Jail records showed Yarbrough was released from the Madison County Jail three hours after he was booked with a bond set at $15,000. Educator Honor Roll: Heather Coon, Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary Marlon Wayans gives the scoop on Scary Movie 6 Vance says it's 'pretty crazy' he met Pope Francis right before he died Entrance, parking lot of Arab City Park closed due to construction of new Recreation Center City of Arab breaks ground on new recreation center A Huntsville City Schools spokesperson confirmed to News 19 that Yarbrough was employed by the school system from 2016-2022 and was a JROTC instructor for Lee/New Century High School. Court records show that the state is recommending that the court sentence Yarbrough to be imprisoned for 10 years and also pay a fine of $1,000 in each case, as well as pay compensation to the family in the amount of $100. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
HCS gives update on construction of new career tech center, central office
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Huntsville City Schools is building two state-of-the-art buildings on the same campus near Memorial Parkway. On Friday, the school system invited News 19 to get an inside look at the construction progress. Madison nonprofit celebrates excellent volunteers, community impact in the city Huntsville City Schools estimates that construction on the new Central Office is about 80% complete. HCS expects administration employees will move into the new Central Office by the end of this school year. Right next door, HCS is building a new Career Tech Center to house the district's Career Technical Education (CTE) programs. According to HCS, construction is about 60% complete on that building. The Career Tech Center has specialized labs and classrooms to accommodate various CTE programs. 'It was a lot of fun to be able to design a building like this,' said building architect Frank Nola of Nola | Van Peursem Architects. According to Huntsville City Schools, the 81,000-square-foot Career Tech building will provide space for about 600 CTE students. Huntsville police say crime rates have gone down, while population has gone up Huntsville City Schools said there are nine existing CTE programs and two new programs being added in 2025. Automotive Technology (launching in 2025) Industrial Technology (launching in 2025) Building Science Cosmetology Culinary Arts Advanced Manufacturing Design Advanced Health Science Greenpower Precision Machining Welding Educationand Training Nola told News 19 that he's excited for Career Tech students to see the new space. 'My hope for the students is that they come in and say 'Oh wow, we love this place',' Nola said. 'Then future students, from a recruitment standpoint, come in and say 'we want to go to this place,'' Huntsville City Schools unveiled plans for the new Central Office and Career Tech building in September of 2022. Nola said he's excited to see it coming together after months of construction. 'As we see the building take shape, it's got a really cool form, I think it says a lot about progress in our city and the redevelopment of north Huntsville,' he said. Huntsville City Schools said it expects students to be able to start classes at the new Career Tech center this fall. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
