[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":73},"mediaId",6675765,"mediaKeyId","2627967-074ec45acd95942e9f7f298263c88211","parentId",2627967,"title","Shawnee Mission board adopts age‑differentiated limits on personal electronic devices; policy JCDC to take effect in February","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",7912000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2627967-074ec45acd95942e9f7f298263c88211&start=7912&end=7912","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2627967-074ec45acd95942e9f7f298263c88211/thumbnail_7912000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6675765/Kansas/Shawnee-Mission-board-adopts-agedifferentiated-limits-on-personal-electronic-devices-policy-JCDC-to-take-effect-in-February","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6675765-982e647be44a4e35795649d21f30b12c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771114032&Signature=KMNGHCsG6GtGEKFNmeU00QusDM~23Vo-aWCRhBjmcLIoz9KIMwzcXyok1urV6936unTr~ia~btykjSMSfM2D2klBx7GJHuuXIEuN53GECdECW7J-qL3EudMhDaTI-r31I7f~umEhmtcEA0Q4mi5zb2XXk8ExZbHlLO~pntP18DTalhH7lEJEjw1Mzd0QVeJ8SYkRxq9MMh9jhYyE9e9HWhfbjMUBk39wDO2X0QQgs~P4Dtf1kzFncUIVvY7QVGj4DoG-vPN7WQOY60Vw59N97~LRo1Dmq0flc5pfzy~7fjiK56NDoTzXKlda5Bb6BqirEqeH7HCAO6aO8INdetHTew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Shawnee Mission School District","date","2025-01-13T14:03:41.917Z","article","The Shawnee Mission School District Board of Education on Jan. 13 approved a new policy limiting student use of personal electronic devices during the school day, adopting policy JCDC by a 6–1 vote.

Board leaders framed the policy as an age‑appropriate effort to protect instructional time and give teachers consistent authority. The policy requires elementary and middle school students to store personal devices in backpacks, lockers or designated areas during the school day; middle school students may briefly check devices during passing periods at their lockers. High school expectations focus on protecting instructional time; the administration said teachers will not be allowed to permit device use for non‑instructional purposes during class.

\"Anything that we do in the school district ought to serve student achievement,\" Superintendent Dr. Schumacher told the board while summarizing the administration's recommendation. The administration proposed the age‑differentiated approach after an action team produced separate recommendations for elementary, middle and high schools.

High school principals said implementing a phone policy midyear will require clear communication and coaching for students and staff but is feasible. \"If we were to implement this at the high school level . . . we would just have to be clear and precise with our implementation plan,\" said Jason Pierres, principal at Shawnee Mission East.

Board members expressed a range of views during the discussion. Some said the policy gives teachers needed support. Others urged continued emphasis on teaching digital citizenship so students learn to use technology responsibly beyond school. One board member expressed reservations and said they would abstain from the vote; the board president noted an abstention would be counted as a no and the motion carried 6–1.

The board also updated the district discipline matrix and student handbooks to add a new entry addressing personal electronic device violations; administrative responses for first offenses include counselor conferences, parent contact and device confiscation, escalating to repeated‑offense remedies (the discipline matrix lists in‑school suspension as an available response for severe or repeated offenses). The board approved the handbook revisions 7–0.

Implementation steps and timing: the administration asked for a three‑week runway after board approval to allow staff and principals to prepare and communicate with families; full implementation was scheduled for Feb. 3. Communications staff prepared an internal and external rollout plan using social media, emails to families and staff and building‑level meetings. Principals told the board they will provide classroom and building procedures, phone storage options for staff rooms, and resources to help teachers manage transitions.

Exceptions and special cases: The administration said exceptions would be handled on a limited basis for documented health or learning needs (through the district\u0000\u0000504 process and similar accommodations). Principals said teachers could request short, classroom‑specific device use when needed for instruction; these uses should be monitored and limited to activities that are \"needed for learning.\"

The administration committed to returning to the board with an evaluation at the end of the school year on implementation and effectiveness.

Votes at a glance

- Policy JCDC (Restrictions on possession and use of personal electronic devices): Motion to approve moved by \"Henry,\" seconded by Board member Garcia; motion carried 6–1. (Implementation target Feb. 3; discipline matrix updates and staff communications planned.)

- Revised elementary, middle and high school student handbooks (updates implementing JCDC): Approved 7–0.

- Resolution to establish election of school board officers at the June 23, 2025 organizational meeting: Approved 7–0 (statutory requirement).

- Resolution establishing board regular meeting dates for 2025–26: Approved 7–0 (statutory requirement).

Ending: The board voted to move forward with the policy and handbook changes, and the administration will return with an end‑of‑year report on implementation and any recommended refinements.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","SMSD Board Meeting January 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","After weeks of study and public comment, the board approved policy JCDC restricting student personal electronic device use during the school day with a 6–1 vote; student handbooks were revised and other administrative steps set a Feb. 3 implementation date.","taxTitle","Shawnee Mission Pub Sch, School Boards, Kansas","taxId",13093,"location","Kansas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6675779,"Shawnee Mission reports drop in chronic absenteeism, expands mental-health and student‑voice programs",1847,2040000,3887000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2627967-074ec45acd95942e9f7f298263c88211&start=2040&end=3887","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2627967-074ec45acd95942e9f7f298263c88211/thumbnail_2040000.jpg","/articles/6675779/Kansas/Shawnee-Mission-reports-drop-in-chronic-absenteeism-expands-mental-health-and-studentvoice-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6675779-286e6de9524ce8f29ee79fed6910662f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771114032&Signature=R56gaNtV7RGfx-Nvuz9aKsVV2Ecrb3XIzY7ULPcSqC37p-V3slyCe3RtFGZkVkbNEJnwDOwxBEV9ITsgER9D6UvaehwxXEjI2YyO7mVEGFI96EEIGZY3EwHIjaFOcIY0oqdazorXvYIDN28ytpM1hLdBSB6jHlMfT3lZGOrzmlwr7MAiytmxuz2Az9Ylru7YKi0mlxOSxz27A8x2AL2S8pd7miSIpM57kwdIAZSFl0hRDhplrD53Y1omhY662fEOX6ik1K2LJs~tOtsT0Kh7Uo18W~25xHZvapwFaYBdkQ~CWMGSsqJBHYXDUsw8AdPNSQ0y8z5wRzGgXdEWmADTYw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Shawnee Mission School District officials on Jan. 13 reported a drop in chronic absenteeism and described new and expanded supports aimed at student attendance, mental health and belonging.

The district\u0000said chronic absenteeism fell from 22 percent to 18 percent in December compared with the same point last year, and administrators credited new attendance specialists, increased family outreach and school‑level supports for the improvement.

The update came during a presentation by Student and Family Services that summarized the department\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000work over the past year, including expanded attendance outreach, mental‑health programming and student leadership programs such as YES (Youth Equity Stewardship), Sources of Strength and 0 Reasons Why.

\"We set out to renew, review our internal practices for recording attendance and make unnecessary adjustments to support our building teams,\" said Dr. John McKinney, Director of Student Family Services. \"We expanded communication on the importance and impact of attendance, and we identified barriers and have been relentless in removing challenges for students and families.\"

Memo Rodriguez, one of the district's attendance specialists who serves the South feeder pattern, described the specialists' daily work: following attendance data, meeting families, holding goal‑setting meetings and removing barriers such as transportation or anxiety. \"I tell families I talk with that I am here as an advocate,\" Rodriguez said. He told the board the attendance team has conducted more than 2,300 individual student check‑in meetings and communicated with nearly 2,000 parents this year.

The presentation said the district newly hired six attendance specialists, with an additional position supporting alternative programs (Horizons and Arrowhead) this year. The district also described a protocol for increased outreach, including earlier contact with families, monthly check‑ins for chronically absent students and home visits when staff cannot reach families.

Mental‑health staffing and programming were highlighted as a second major focus. \"SMSD employs 57 masters and clinical level social workers and 40 counselors, including five real world learning counselors,\" Dr. McKinney said, noting that counselors and social workers recorded more than 45,000 guidance‑related interactions in 2023–24. The board heard that the district implemented Character Strong as a preK–12 resource to provide social‑emotional and character development instruction.

Shawnee Mission West social worker Catherine Harder and senior Maya Williams described school‑level mental‑health initiatives. Harder emphasized student leadership in prevention programs: \"Sources of Strength and 0 Reasons Why . . . center the student as leaders, empowering them to help not only themselves, but to be able to reach out and help those around them.\" Williams described activities including a color run, peer‑leader training and a countywide panel that shared students' experiences.

Board members asked detailed questions about the data and implementation. Mr. Garcia asked why overall student contact entries fell in 2023–24 while SEL‑related entries remained steady. Dr. McKinney and other staff said the shift likely reflects stronger tier‑1 classroom supports (teachers addressing more needs directly in class), continued recovery from pandemic effects and more consistent use of SEL curriculum, rather than a drop in student needs.

Board member Ms. Asley asked whether the district distinguishes excused versus unexcused absences when tracking chronic absenteeism. Staff said buildings can disaggregate that information and that attendance specialists focus early outreach on unexcused absences; they also said coding and process improvements are ongoing so schools can better differentiate reasons for absences.

The report included ongoing partnership acknowledgements: Johnson County Mental Health was credited for helping launch Sources of Strength and 0 Reasons Why and for hosting events such as the Youth Leadership Summit. The team said it will continue to develop a belonging resource hub for staff, expand equity‑practitioner capacity and return to the board with further recommendations tied to the district strategic plan.

The presentation closed with a request for continued community participation on action teams and an invitation for board follow‑up; staff said they will provide additional written materials and links in the meeting recap.

Ending: Board members praised the presentation and asked the team to continue tracking attendance, mental‑health metrics and program outcomes. Staff said they will return with further updates and with any recommendations that emerge from the strategic‑plan action teams.","District officials reported a decline in chronic absenteeism and outlined expanded attendance specialist roles, mental‑health programming and student leadership efforts during the school board\u0000meeting.","actionData","errors"]

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Shawnee Mission board adopts age‑differentiated limits on personal electronic devices; policy JCDC to take effect in February

Shawnee Mission reports drop in chronic absenteeism, expands mental-health and student‑voice programs