Exeter School Board discusses state law on student personal electronic devices; adoption delayed to next meeting

The Exeter School Board on an evening meeting discussed a new state law requiring school districts to adopt policies that govern student cellphones and other personal electronic communication devices, but the board did not vote and will consider final adoption at its next meeting.

Board Chair Heather Eichmeier read the law aloud during discussion: “The school boards and the board of trustees of chartered public schools shall develop and adopt a policy governing the use of student cell phones and other personal electronic communication devices.” She told the board the measure was part of HB 2 signed into law in June and that the district will both discuss the policy at public meetings and adopt it at a future meeting.

The proposed policy would be a bell‑to‑bell rule: personal communication devices would be prohibited from the first bell through the end of the school day, with exceptions the superintendent may authorize for medical, disability or language proficiency needs. Eichmeier said the law also requires districts to develop the rule “in collaboration with school parents and teachers and shall be reviewed annually.”

Why it matters: the change will affect how students carry and use phones and smartwatches during instructional time, and it requires school handbooks and the district website be updated to reflect the new rules.

During discussion board members and administrators focused on implementation and communication. Officials said the district will outline consequences in the student handbook and use a progressive discipline approach handled by teachers and building administrators. Allison Bridal, the assistant superintendent and superintendent designee, described the process for exceptions and said some requests had already been accommodated.

Board members raised practical questions about enforcement and safety. One member asked how the policy would handle smartwatches and whether devices will have to remain off or in backpacks. Principals said buildings will work to support students in complying and will contact caregivers when violations recur; administrators characterized early responses from older students in other schools as generally positive, with students reporting feeling more present when devices were restricted.

Board members also discussed outreach to families beyond posting the policy on meeting agendas. Eichmeier noted the legal minimum is posting with the agenda but agreed the district should use multiple channels—newsletters, website updates and direct family communications—to inform families of protocols and how parents can comment at public sessions.

The board did not vote on the policy. Eichmeier said the policy will be on the agenda for formal adoption at the board’s October meeting, and the administration will work with principals to translate enforcement details into the student handbook and family communications ahead of that vote.

Ending: The board scheduled additional public opportunity for comment before the adoption vote and asked administration to prepare handbook language explaining exceptions, progressive discipline steps and practical guidance for families and students (for example, how smartwatches should be configured to comply).