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Board deadlocks on cellphone policy after vigorous student and board debate
Summary
After extensive discussion and student input, the Phoenix-Talent School District board failed to adopt the personal electronic devices policy required by the governor’s executive order, leaving the district without a board-level cellphone policy before the state deadline.
Phoenix-Talent School District board members on Wednesday debated and ultimately failed to adopt a district policy that would implement a statewide directive limiting student cellphone use during school hours.
The policy under consideration—board policy JFCBE, "Personal Electronic Devices"—was discussed for more than an hour. Superintendent Brent Berry told the board the governor had issued an executive order requiring local school boards to adopt a cellphone policy by Oct. 31, with an implementation date of Jan. 1. "She passed the executive order that says we have to pass policy at a board level addressing cell phones," Berry said during the meeting.
Students and staff spoke at length during the discussion. Several student representatives described caregiving responsibilities and jobs that require them to check in with family members during the school day, and they warned that a strict ban at meal periods could create…
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