Governing Board approves updated technology-use policy limiting student device use and outlines implementation plan

The Governing Board of the Catalina Foothill School District on Thursday approved revisions to policy IJNDB and regulation IJNDB-R, tightening rules on student access to social media, clarifying personal electronic device use, and adding language on AI tools and parent notification.

Board approval follows a second reading during which district staff explained a series of edits intended to remove redundancy, clarify enforcement boundaries and comply with recent state law changes. "AI driven tools will be available to all students, and uses of AI technologies will comply with the FERPA and support data security," said Cheryl, a district staff member who presented the revisions.

The board and staff framed the change as both compliance and clarification. The regulation was updated after House Bill 2484 amended Arizona Revised Statutes §15-120.05 to address student Internet access and wireless device use in schools, the presenter said. Key changes include restricting student access to social-media platforms except when allowed for educational purposes; defining "personal electronic devices" (PDs) to include items such as smart glasses; and removing a reference to buses where district Wi‑Fi is not available.

Under the new regulation, PD rules are layered by grade: students in grades K–8 must keep PDs "off and away" for the school day; students in grades 9–12 must keep PDs "off and away" "bell to bell" during each class period, with teacher- or administrator-directed exceptions for educational use, medical needs or emergencies. The regulation also states the district Internet "may only be accessed using the district-provided Wi‑Fi." The revision clarifies that district rules apply on school property, at school events held on school property, and while using the district's Internet, including at home.

Jennifer Lauer, a parent who identified herself as part of a parent group that previously submitted materials to the board, urged further information and a plan for ongoing study: "We wanted to get some more information on that and what the next steps might be for that," she said, asking whether the board would form a working group to continue discussion of a bell-to-bell policy.

Board members and staff responded that the immediate next step is implementation and data collection. "We haven't thought specifically about a study group yet because what we're thinking about is first we have to implement this policy with fidelity," Cheryl said, adding the district will provide copies of the adopted policy to parents, legal guardians, teachers and students at the start of the school year and will notify them of any future changes.

Board members emphasized surveys and feedback after implementation. "I fully appreciate that this is a very big topic," Governing Board member Amy said, and called for more data from teachers, students and families before making further changes. Another board member suggested surveying students and site councils after the policy has been implemented to assess perceived impact.

On enforcement, presenters said school administrators retain discretion over when PD use is permitted or prohibited and that inappropriate uses remain subject to the district's existing discipline matrix. The board noted that high schools already have phone-pouch systems and that the district will provide similar pouches where needed.

The board approved the revisions, as amended, by a 5–0 vote. The amendments fixed two technical wording items noted during the meeting. District staff will distribute the adopted policy at the start of the school year, implement the rules in classrooms, and collect feedback from teachers and students to inform any future policy revisions.

The approval closes the second-reading action on IJNDB and IJNDB-R; staff said personnel-related sections that belong in HR policies will be moved when the related HR policy (GBEB) is revised.