According to Sevier County Board of Education Policy 633 (Extracurricular Activities), the following guidelines will be followed in administering school-sponsored extracurricular activities in Sevier County Schools:

• Each extracurricular activity must be under the guidance and direction of a staff member who is a full-time employee of the Sevier County School System;
• The principal, after obtaining the recommendation of the faculty, will determine which clubs, organizations, and athletic programs will be permitted;
• Each school principal or his/her designee shall supervise extracurricular activities before or after school hours;
• Students serving out-of-school suspensions will not be permitted to participate in extracurricular activities during suspension periods;
• For secondary athletics programs, the Board shall abide by any mandatory roles set forth by the Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association (TSSAA) and, thus, instructs that all employees adhere to those rules.

Students shall not consume, possess, use, sell, distribute, or be under the influence of illegal drugs or alcoholic beverages in school buildings, on school grounds, in school vehicles or buses, or at any school-sponsored activity, function, or event, whether on or off school grounds.

Disciplinary sanctions shall be imposed on students who violate this standard of conduct. Such sanctions shall be consistent with local, state, and federal laws up to and including suspension/expulsion as well as referral for prosecution. Completion of an appropriate rehabilitation program may also be recommended.

Information about drug and alcohol counseling and rehabilitation programs shall be made available through the school office.

Announcements by the Superintendent of Schools concerning the closing of schools in Sevier County will be made on local radio and television stations as well as through the system’s website (Sevier County School System).  In the event of an emergency or abrupt closing, a phone messaging service will be utilized.  When the primary phone number for a student changes, the primary parent or guardian should contact school officials and request that the child’s phone numbers be updated on all enrollment information as well as the district’s messaging system.

If school is not in session or is dismissed early due to snow or inclement weather, the Superintendent of Schools in consultation with the principal(s) of the impacted school(s) shall determine if all scheduled activities in which students are involved shall be postponed or cancelled.

In alignment with Sevier County Board of Education Policy 505 (Family Involvement), schools shall establish and develop programs and practices that enhance family engagement and address the specific needs of students and families. Decisions affecting students, schools, and established school procedures shall always be made within the parameters of legal and Sevier County Board of Education policies. The programs and practices will be comprehensive and coordinated and will include the following goals:

• Assist families in developing skills and techniques to support their children’s learning.
• Promote clear, two-way communication between school and family about school issues, instructional programs, and children’s progress.
• Identify and reduce barriers to family engagement, including such barriers as those of economic concerns, disabilities, limited English proficiency, limited literacy, or issues related to cultural diversity.
• Inform, involve, and train family members, where appropriate, in voluntary instructional and support roles at school.
• Provide information about community and support services for children and families.
• Include families in decision-making affecting schools and programs when consistent with law and policies of the Sevier County Board of Education.
• Provide professional development for teachers and staff on ways to work effectively with parents, families, and volunteers.
• Provide access to the family engagement policy for each family and post the policy in each school.

The Sevier County School System is committed to making sure that all students have all the tools they need to succeed, including good nutrition to fuel their bodies and minds. When children return to school, please turn in your family’s application for free school lunch and breakfast if you have not already done so. Many are surprised to find out that they qualify, and turning in this application helps every child in the school. Qualifying for free school breakfast and lunch helps provide nutritious food for your children at school so they can learn and concentrate better. It also increases the amount of local, state, and federal grant money your school receives, reduces college entrance exam and application fees, and saves you time and money at home. In addition, it provides the opportunity to serve meals at no charge to students participating in afterschool and summer programs.

If you are earning at or below the current Income Eligibility Guidelines (https://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/income-eligibility-guidelines), you are encouraged to contact your school to fill out a school meal application when students return to school. You can also use the link provided on Sevier County School System to apply today. Please join us, and the school community, in strengthening and growing our school meal program by filling out your free school meals application. Applications can be filled out at any time of year.

You can also sign up for a free MyPaymentsPlus account to have 24/7 access to cafeteria balances, purchase history, prepayments for meals, auto-pay capability, and low balance email reminders.

Board Policy 649 and Board Policy 603 clearly outline criteria for the admission of non-resident students.  With few exceptions, students residing outside of Sevier County are not eligible to attend Sevier County Schools. A “non-resident student” is a student whose legal residence is located outside of Sevier County. “Legal residence” is defined as the primary residence of the student’s custodial parent(s) or guardian(s).

The limitations set forth above do not apply to the following types of non-resident students:

1. Children of Sevier County School Employees

• If an employee of Sevier County Schools resides outside Sevier County, the children of that employee may attend Sevier County Schools. If employment with Sevier County Schools ends, the children may complete the current school year in Sevier County Schools.

2. Caregiver Residing in Sevier County Acting Under Power of Attorney for Care of a Minor Child

• Through a power of attorney for care of a minor child, a caregiver residing in Sevier County may enroll the minor child in Sevier County Schools.
• The caregiver shall have the right to enroll the child in Sevier County Schools if the power of attorney states that the parent/guardian is unable to care for the child due to one or more of the following hardships:
  • Serious illness or incarceration of the parent/guardian;
  • Physical or mental condition of parent/guardian/child is such that care and supervision of the child cannot be provided; or
  • The loss or uninhabitability of the child’s home as the result of a natural disaster.
• If the hardship is not one of the three specified above, Sevier County Schools may, at the discretion of the Superintendent of Schools or his/her designee, enroll a student with a properly executed power of attorney on a case-by-case basis. Prior to enrollment, school administrators may require documentation of the minor child’s residence with a caregiver or documentation to verify the validity of any stated hardship.

3. Homeless Students

• Homeless students shall be enrolled and provided educational services in accordance with state and federal law including, but not limited to, the McKinney-Vento Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2001 Subtitle B §§ 721-725.

4. Children in Custody of the State of Tennessee Department of Children's Services

• Children whose parents/guardians reside outside of Sevier County who are placed in Sevier County by DCS remain eligible for enrollment subject to the provisions of Board Policy 650.

5. Children of Service Members Who are Relocated to Tennessee

• Children who are the natural child, stepchild, or adopted child of a member of the United States armed forces who is engaged in active military service who do not reside within Sevier County may enroll in the Sevier County School System if:
  • The student is a dependent child of an active military service member who is being relocated to the State of Tennessee on military orders and will, upon relocation, be a resident of Sevier County; but will not be a resident of Sevier County during its typical enrollment period; and
  • Within sixty (60) days of the student’s relocation, the active service member provides Sevier County Schools with documentation evidencing that the student is the dependent child of the service member and that the service member is being relocated to the State of Tennessee on military orders and will, upon relocation, be a resident of Sevier County.

Except as provided in this policy, if the school system enrolls an out-of-state resident, the school system will also enforce compliance with Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-6-403(f).

Board Policy 603 (Student Assignment and Transfers within the System) also addresses several enrollment issues.  The Sevier County Board of Education has established no attendance zones for schools in our system; however, bus transportation will be provided to the local school only. Parents who reside in Sevier County may transport their children to any school they choose.

After the first five days of school, parents of elementary students may not transfer their children from one school to another unless the parents move into a new community. For secondary students there will be no more than three days of open enrollment per term. An exception may be made to this statement if both gaining and losing principals believe that the transfer is in the best interest of the student(s) and the schools. If either or both principals disagree, the parents may appeal to the Superintendent's hearing officer.

Based on Sevier County Board of Education Policy 638 (Waiver of Student Fees), students who receive free or reduced cost lunches are eligible for waivers of school-related fees.

School fees are defined as fees for activities that occur during the regular hours, fees for activities and supplies required to participate in all courses required for credit or grade, fees for a copy of the student's record, refundable security deposits, and fees or tuition applicable to courses taken by resident students for credit or grade in the summer.

School fees do not include fines imposed for lost textbooks, late returned library books, parking, abuse of school property, debts incurred, costs for extracurricular activities occurring outside the regular school day, etc.

Documentation of parent consent for the waiving of confidentiality on applications for free and reduced meals will be required.

If a student is transferring to another school system while still owing debts to the Sevier County School System, grades, grade cards, transcripts or diplomas may be withheld from the student and/or parent for failure to pay just debts as mentioned above. In addition, the principal may elect to (i) reduce the student’s grade in the course for which a damaged textbook is prescribed by one letter grade or ten percentage points until restitution is made or (ii) prevent the student taking tests or exams, or earning course credit until restitution is made. Refer to Sevier County Board of Education Policy 637.

All uses of tobacco, electronic/battery operated devices, vapor products, and all other associated paraphernalia are prohibited in all of the District's buildings and in all vehicles that are owned, leased, or operated by the District.

Smoking and vaping shall be prohibited in any public seating areas including, but not limited to, bleachers used for sporting events or public restrooms.

For more information, refer to Sevier County Board of Education Policy 609 (Student Use of Tobacco or Electronic Cigarettes).

As stated in Sevier County Board of Education Policy 610 (Bus Conduct), the school bus is an extension of school activity. Students must conduct themselves on the bus in a manner consistent with the established standards for safety and classroom behavior.

Students are under the supervision and control of the bus driver while on his/her bus and all reasonable directions given by the driver will be followed. The principal of the student transported will be informed by the bus driver of any serious discipline problem and may be called upon to assist if necessary. A student may be denied the privilege of riding the bus if the principal determines that his/her behavior is such as to cause disruption on the bus, or if the student disobeys state or local rules and regulations pertaining to student transportation. The suspension of a student from the riding the school bus will follow the same general procedures as any other school suspension.

Any student wishing to ride a bus other than his/her designated bus or to get off at a non-standard location must present written parental permission AND the written approval from the student’s principal. The same rule also applies to any student who wishes to gets off at any point between the pick-up point and the school. The student’s bus driver shall be required to turn the signed note(s) over to the Transportation Director as soon as practicable after completion of the route.

For more information about the assigned bus route or to express concerns about bus transportation, call 865-453-3568.

The school system is committed to a safe campus without interruption of the instructional process.  Visitors will be asked to display a driver’s license or government issued photo identification before entering the building, to report to the school office upon entering the school, and to sign a guest log.  Authorization to visit elsewhere in the building or on the school campus will be determined by the principal or his/her designee.  Through the KeepnTrack Program, guest passes will be issued for all persons other than students and employees of the school.