District administrators told the board they have tightened administrative regulations to implement the board’s existing personal electronic device policy so it aligns with state legislation that took effect July 1. John Flynn (staff member) described the regulations as implementation detail, not a change to board policy, and said the district’s written rules already closely match the new House File requirements.

Why it matters: House File 782 requires districts to define allowed educational devices, a secure storage protocol for confiscated phones, a parental petition process for health or mental-health needs, and accommodations for students with IEPs or 504 plans. Flynn said the district will continue to permit Chromebooks as the instruction device in class, will buy lockable phone boxes for offices, and will provide parent communication protocols through school office phones.

Discipline and process: Flynn summarized a progressive sequence the district will use: a first offense becomes a minor technology referral, the device is taken and may be returned at the end of the day with parental consent; a second offense becomes a major referral and the device is released only to a parent who comes to school; a third or subsequent offense adds a major referral for defiance/insubordination in addition to the tech violation and triggers longer-term consequences. Buildings will be asked to write individualized “cell phone plans” for students with repeated violations and may use options such as check-in/check-out, Yonder pouches, or temporary collection periods.

Exceptions and logistics: Flynn stressed that the district will follow IEPs and 504 plans where a cellular device is explicitly part of a student’s accommodations. He also said principals and middle/high school leaders helped draft the regulations to ensure consistent implementation across periods and teachers. The policy as implemented will treat “instructional time” as the full class period; high schools retain limited exceptions for passing time and lunch.

Board questions: Board members raised operational concerns — President Klein Jerome said lunch can be instructional and encouraged adult-facilitated student communication; board member Karen asked how elementary lockers with no locks will be protected if devices are stored there; Flynn said principals will address building-specific storage systems. Flynn said district communications, advisory lesson plans for the first week of school, and lockable phone boxes will be rolled out before open house.

No board action was required at this meeting; administrators will distribute final regs and parent communications before school starts.