[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6362178,"mediaKeyId","2168489-980afcbd199b8f1a24188be2a5dbdb03","parentId",2168489,"title","Lakeville school board holds second reading of cell-phone policy; middle schools favor locker storage, high schools favor in-class limits","audioSeconds",771,"startMs",1112000,"endMs",1883000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2168489-980afcbd199b8f1a24188be2a5dbdb03&start=1112&end=1883","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2168489-980afcbd199b8f1a24188be2a5dbdb03/thumbnail_1112000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6362178/Minnesota/Lakeville-school-board-holds-second-reading-of-cell-phone-policy-middle-schools-favor-locker-storage-high-schools-favor-in-class-limits","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6362178-53c214fd2e2a87705980cd151cf4b0bb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771016430&Signature=JygR3vYTpaNlsH8ImMDZ706-M~OLDqRrCsw0yodiuHQe3jC4UTukpBJi6YBHU0Gh8~QF0oO6T7Emb-Nf84AYwL29X2Mj5a9Fji6RMQa~5cLhkCrd8r3ZhVOgdVILnf0HM03~uvtXLRkLRGk59jgVMt-XyH9buql4slqnaT7mhCr1TnWbarhjiEkTCB5TL6McKc~G5qAmV0VSYmKomuQ~0Fw1f80uEXSOKw5n41B4sxmmB1limJAPov1womfHT80gXiV9sZKcIQ0EXgNk1triYLnWhOiRdWU9OQhr1mD446uBa5R6s8bwl4Lm-QsX7RRss2ZP1mvC8h8vreOR9ejJvw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lakeville Public School District, MN","date","2025-01-29T03:45:17Z","article","Lakeville Area Schools reviewed a second reading of a proposed student cell-phone policy on Jan. 28, 2025, with staff describing different approaches by level: the draft would bar phones during instructional time K-12, but middle schools want devices kept in lockers while high schools would permit limited phone use during passing time and lunch.

Brenda Albrecht, executive director of Administrative Services, told the board that recent state legislation requires districts to adopt a policy on students' possession and use of cell phones in schools by March 15, 2025; the provision, effective May 18, 2024, also asks state principal associations to provide best-practice guidance. Principal Kim Booty of Lakeville North High School described a high-school approach that focuses on \"bell-to-bell\" instruction: \"From bell to bell during class, phones should be put away because we want them to truly focus in on instruction,\" Booty said, while acknowledging students need phone access at times for transportation or work.

Dr. Alexander, representing the district's three middle schools (Kenwood, McGuire and Century), recommended a stricter practice: middle-school students should store devices in their lockers so they are removed from temptation. \"Our kiddos don't quite have the maturation of a high school student who can self-regulate,\" Dr. Alexander said. He described a current middle-school practice this year where devices are kept in lockers and reported it has been successful.

Board members asked how the policy would be enforced. Booty described classroom-level options: teachers may require students to keep phones in backpacks or use phone pockets that teachers collect for assessments. The discipline sequence described was asking students to put phones away, placing the device on the desk on a second prompt, and bringing the device to the office after a third infraction. For middle schools the practice is to ask students to return phones to lockers and, if necessary, collect the device and follow the school's progressive discipline and parent-notification procedures.

Nicole Adams, addressing a consent-agenda hiring question, told the board the district has five school-success liaisons with a sixth starting next week; the liaisons currently are on 185-day contracts and the board reviewed a proposal to move them to 205 days funded from the A&I (Achievement and Integration) budget. Adams said the additional days are used for family outreach and community events when students are not in session.

Board members also raised related policy questions: whether the policy scope should explicitly include emergent devices (for example, Internet-enabled glasses or AI-capable devices) or whether the phrasing \"personal electronic devices\" is broad enough. Director Brian (Bridal) Thompson asked whether recording school employees without permission would be treated as a violation; staff said the policy prohibits students from recording others on school property without permission and that enforcement would consider context and privacy protections, with the school's policy document serving as the basis for any disciplinary follow-up.

Other clarifications from staff: assistive-technology devices assigned through Individualized Education Programs generally use district-issued devices (iPads or Chromebooks) rather than personal phones so students with IEPs do not appear different from peers; watches have generated few infractions but earbuds are a recurring enforcement issue. Several trustees suggested the board's policy committee review language for elementary, middle and high school differences, clarify locker/cubby language for younger grades that lack lockers, and ensure exemptions for medical management and documented assistive-technology needs.

No final vote was taken on the cell-phone policy at the Jan. 28 meeting; trustees agreed to have a policy-committee review and to return with recommended language in time to meet the statutory adoption deadline of March 15, 2025.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Meeting - January 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Lakeville Area Schools held a second reading of a required cell-phone policy on Jan. 28, 2025, with middle-school principals recommending locker storage and high-school staff endorsing phone-free instruction but limited use at passing and lunch.","taxTitle","Lakeville Public School District, School Boards, Minnesota","taxId",13453,"location","Minnesota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6362184,"Lakeville board votes to remove district’s inclusive poster series and adopt new academics-focused campaign",2197,2771000,4968000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2168489-980afcbd199b8f1a24188be2a5dbdb03&start=2771&end=4968","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2168489-980afcbd199b8f1a24188be2a5dbdb03/thumbnail_2771000.jpg","/articles/6362184/Minnesota/Lakeville-board-votes-to-remove-districts-inclusive-poster-series-and-adopt-new-academics-focused-campaign","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6362184-850d8cc603484cc43af942966fbb6ddb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771016430&Signature=IR0Hz86itFBlLLkCfF9S7JdHefKhbGxSYsUiwc~89TSXOjn10j74Jf6xjO~6vec2G86C88VbmNhBV6L9ATq-EP~FeVWwGtSXq8UAG0YjeoNNJSefSLHFLu~0ghW1YSR242Xnk9ddQAFN8xIKsWAVfgKn6WhO7UGjsIO4J57VoHHOmpVLAw3Kril0v2a4TTylI4OhR~FGvh7dfThuBBFS04Lhrjy2xiBpChY-vSi-RDhwMlc~hytGN~cDL2bL1Gk92pJiXS3CxyqJAGksZZ3t4pmdTwobueskgT2CRg0sqSltCQKA9gH~yYHT5VpfkW~5aoEWYkWCffUouZ5FY4dF5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lakeville Area Schools board voted 4-3 on Jan. 28, 2025, to remove the district's Inclusive Series posters from district property and direct staff to develop a new academics- and excellence-focused poster series for schools.

The vote followed more than an hour of public comment in which students, parents, teachers and other residents urged opposing positions, and a staff briefing that cited ongoing litigation over the poster series. Superintendent Michael Baumann told the board that the legal dispute over the posters has been active for more than three years and that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit revived the plaintiffs' case in Cajun v. Independent School District 194, prompting the district to bring the matter into open session for a public vote.

The question mattered to students and families who said the posters signaled safety and belonging. Several students told the board the posters helped them feel welcome. Natalie Kaye, a resident speaking during public comment, argued that the posters were \"political and divisive\" and urged removal; Austin Meyer, a Lakeville North High School teacher, told the board that students said the signs made them feel safe and supported. Superintendent Baumann said the posters had been placed before the current board's tenure and that legal and procedural questions about how they were approved contributed to the dispute.

Board members debated research, legal risk and community sentiment. Director Amber Cameron and Director Carly Anderson cited peer-reviewed work and district feedback supporting the posters' positive effects on students from underrepresented groups. Anderson, a board member and neuropsychologist, cited research showing symbolic classroom features can affect student performance and said, \"symbols inform students whether they are valued learners and belong within the classroom.\" Director Brett Nicholson and others raised legal concerns based on the Eighth Circuit decision and urged a fresh start and strict neutrality so the district would not risk further litigation.

Chair Matt Swanson moved to remove the posters from all district property; Paul Carbone seconded the motion. Director Brian (Bridal) Thompson offered an amendment to replace the series with a new campaign focused on academics and student excellence; the amended motion ultimately carried on a roll-call vote: Thompson, Carbone, Nicholson and Swanson voted yes; Anderson, Kim Baker and Amber Cameron voted no.

The board did not adopt a final design or implementation timetable at the meeting. Superintendent Baumann and trustees agreed administration will return with a plan for a new series, and several board members suggested the new campaign should be developed with student and community involvement and should include clear board policy governing displays to avoid future legal exposure.

The board meeting also included repeated requests by members that the administration and board follow a clarified, transparent process for approving any future on-wall displays. Several trustees asked that draft display policies and stakeholder input be collected before new posters are printed and installed.

The motion and the deliberations do not change any classroom practices beyond wall displays and do not address curriculum; board members repeatedly emphasized that instruction and staff expectations remain unchanged. The board scheduled follow-up discussion in upcoming meetings for policy review and for administration to present a proposal for a replacement poster series and an associated adoption process.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to remove the Inclusive Series posters and direct administration to replace them with an academics/excellence-themed poster series: Passed, 4-3 (Yes: Brian [Bridal] Thompson, Paul Carbone, Brett Nicholson, Matt Swanson. No: Carly Anderson, Kim Baker, Amber Cameron).","After hours of public comment and legal context from district counsel, the Lakeville Area Schools board voted 4-3 to remove the district's Inclusive Series posters and direct administration to develop a new academics- and excellence-focused wall campaign.","actionData","errors"]

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Lakeville school board holds second reading of cell-phone policy; middle schools favor locker storage, high schools favor in-class limits

Lakeville board votes to remove district’s inclusive poster series and adopt new academics-focused campaign