District staff presented a Personal Electronic Device (PED) plan to the Eagle Point School District 9 board on Sept. 12 that would require students to store phones and other personal electronic devices (AirPods, smart watches, etc.) in backpacks or lockers during the school day, with narrow medical and 504/IEP exceptions.

Heather (district administrator) told the board the plan was developed after the governor issued an executive order requiring districts to adopt PED plans (the executive order’s implementation deadline described to the board was Oct. 31, 2025; the ban’s effective date in the order is Jan. 1, 2026). The district decided to put the policy into effect on the first day of the school year, rather than mid‑year, for clarity and consistency.

Key elements described in the district plan:
- Storage and access: Students may store PEDs in district‑issued lockers, backpacks or vehicles; middle and high school approaches differ because of campus layout. Staff advised backpacks as the default after reviewing research on student behavior.
- Exceptions: Devices required for medical monitoring (for example, blood‑glucose apps for diabetic students) or accommodations documented in a 504 plan or IEP may be exempt, subject to administrator review and a district process for reasonable accommodations.
- Extracurricular and travel: The policy does not restrict devices during extracurricular activities and away competitions; coaches and activity leaders will set expectations for trips and travel times.
- Enforcement pathway: first offense — device confiscated (retained in secure office storage); second offense — parent must pick up device and student receives lunch detention; third offense — longer lunch detention and a signed PED contract on pickup; further violations could be treated as defiance and carry in‑ or out‑of‑school suspension depending on severity.

Heather said the district piloted the approach in the middle school and reported limited resistance after two weeks. Staff emphasized they will provide parents and students with clear communications, a request form for accommodations, and a staff accountability plan to ensure consistent enforcement. Board members asked about parent communication and access to students in emergencies; staff said the office remains the primary contact point for messages and that coaches and extracurricular supervisors may permit device use during travel.

No formal policy adoption occurred at the Sept. 12 work session; staff said the administrative regulation and policy language would be brought to the board for formal action and that principals would forward accommodation requests for district review.