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Board favors position statement, not new policy, to address student cell-phone disruptions
Summary
Lockport Township High School District 205 trustees signaled support for a board-level position statement and administrative rollout to reduce classroom cell-phone disruptions rather than drafting a new standalone policy; administration said existing policy 7:190 and dean procedures already provide the disciplinary framework.
The Lockport Township High School District 205 board discussed how to reduce classroom disruptions from cell phones and other electronic devices and indicated preference for a board position statement and coordinated administrative implementation rather than a new stand-alone policy.
Administration and trustees reviewed existing policy language in district policy 7:190 (student behavior) and the district—s dean handbook, which outlines progressive disciplinary steps (verbal warning, parent notification, detention, social suspension) for repeated infractions. The superintendent told the board that the district found no model stand-alone policy in other districts and recommended a position statement that would allow the board to express beliefs and rally support without rewriting the district—s established legal framework.
"Position statement is something you can really blast out at the beginning of the year to say, can we get this started right?" the superintendent said. He noted the difference between a policy (legal architecture and footnotes) and a position statement (values and expectations) and recommended the district craft a clear position and public messaging. Trustees said they wanted consistency across classrooms and support for deans and teachers to implement procedures.
Board members and administrators discussed operational changes already underway: some tools (porta-pockets or phone drop boxes) that were optional last year may be required this year; the dean—s handbook and discipline progression will be clarified publicly; and administration will ask parents and staff to help reinforce expectations. Trustees asked administration to draft the position statement quickly for board review so it could be part of back-to-school communications.
The board did not adopt any new policy at the meeting; instead trustees directed the superintendent and relevant staff to prepare a position statement and communications plan before the start of the school year.
