Kensington board seeks parent input on new state rule banning student personal communication devices during school hours

The Kensington School District board opened public input and asked parents and community members to submit feedback as staff drafts a new personal‑communication‑device policy required by recent state law.

The district told the meeting that the new law, signed June 27, requires a policy that prohibits personal communication devices for students "from when the first bell rings to when the last dismissal bell rings," with limited exemptions for medical, disability or language‑access needs as determined by the superintendent. The board said the SAU policy committee will review a proposed district policy in September and potentially bring a proposal to the board in October.

Principal Becky Ruehl told the meeting parents have largely been cooperative with the shift in the law and noted the law’s definition includes smartwatches: "Our parents have been very really cooperative, in understanding the shift in the law," she said. The board emphasized it is seeking input on several practical questions: where devices should be kept during the day (for example, backpacks), what age‑appropriate enforcement looks like without requiring teachers to "police" devices, how schools should communicate with families during urgent situations and how documented exceptions should be handled.

Board members said they also want to include student voices in the process and make sure the policy language is workable for both elementary and secondary settings. The board stated it will hold the SAU policy committee meeting in September to take public input and that the policy would be reviewed annually once adopted.

The board encouraged residents to send comments and indicated the draft policy will be discussed at a future committee meeting before a formal first or second reading by the board.

Speakers

- Principal Becky Ruehl — principal, Kensington School - Board chair Tiffany — board chair, Kensington School District School Board - Board members and community participants (public input period)

Authorities

- State law signed June 27 requiring a district policy banning personal communication devices during school hours (referred to in meeting; exact statutory citation not provided in transcript)

Clarifying details

- Policy scope: meeting participants said the policy will prohibit student use of "personal communication devices" (explicitly including smartwatches) from the first bell to the last dismissal bell; exemptions for medical, disability and language needs are determined by the superintendent (meeting statements) - Timeline: SAU policy committee review in September; possible proposed policy to the board in October (meeting statements)

Community relevance

- Geographies: Kensington School (local) - Impact groups: students, parents, teachers, families relying on wearable devices for health/communication needs - Funding sources: not applicable

Meeting context

- Engagement level: moderate — topic raised during public‑input segment and discussed by board and principal; board requested public comments - Implementation risk: low — board and superintendent determine exemptions and enforcement

Provenance

- topicintro: {"block_id":"s:38.53-e:86.27","local_start":0,"local_end":115,"evidence_excerpt":"Okay. So the first thing we want to go over is the new law regarding cell phones...Signed into law on June 27...the policy prohibits all personal communication devices used by students from when the first bell rings to when the last dismissal rings"} - topfinish: {"block_id":"s:255.85-e:261.785","local_start":0,"local_end":80,"evidence_excerpt":"So are they just not gonna wear them? Is that what the Pretty much. Yeah. Yeah. Or they stay in their backpacks if, you know, they need them for after school"}

searchable_tags:["cell phone policy","devices","smartwatch","parent input","Kensington"]