Board advances high school handbook changes: tardy threshold cut to five minutes, stricter phone rules

The Onalaska School District presented the 2026–27 Onalaska High School student handbook for first reading, including new attendance and cell-phone policies intended to reduce lost instructional time.

Charlie, presenting the handbook changes, said a behavior-support subcommittee recommended reducing the tardy threshold from 15 minutes to five minutes for habitual late arrivals and adding co-curricular consequences for unverified or truant students. "From that subcommittee we came up with a five minute limit for it being a tardy or unverified," he said, and emphasized that teachers retain discretion for legitimate circumstances such as bathroom visits.

Charlie also described a revamped, multi-layered cell-phone policy piloted in mid-February that yielded "real positive results," language the handbook would formalize. Trustees asked for clarification on impacts for students new to the building and how teachers would apply the rule; Charlie said teachers consulted (seven teachers weighed in) and that classroom discretion would apply. The handbook update also included minor edits to final-exam dates and calendar items.

As a first reading, the handbook will return for subsequent board consideration; no final vote occurred at this meeting.