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Board postpones vote on proposed board-member electronics conduct policy after member concerns
Summary
Board members debated language that would prohibit use of electronic communication devices during meetings (a Neola-recommended provision); members raised enforcement and emergency-exception concerns and voted to postpone the policy to the next meeting for revision.
The DC Everest Area School District board discussed a proposed board-members’ behavior and code-of-conduct policy section that would restrict use of electronic communication devices during board meetings. The policy language under consideration included a Neola-recommended reference and used the term “prohibited” for certain electronic communications during meetings.
Board members expressed support for the policy’s intent — to promote attention and etiquette — but raised questions about enforcement and the definition of emergencies. One board member asked whether the language was driven by statute or a recommendation; staff said the provision was a Neola recommendation and optional. Members asked who would decide if a message qualified as an emergency and whether the board could practically enforce a prohibition.
Several board members suggested softening the language (for example, removing the word “prohibited” or recasting the provision as an ethics statement) to allow reasonable exceptions — such as brief family communications — while preserving the intent. After discussion, a motion to postpone the item to the next meeting for revision passed by voice vote.
Staff said they would bring revised language back, and several members asked that the revision clarify enforcement, emergency exceptions and whether the policy is intended as guidance or a binding rule.
