The Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education on July 14 received a first reading of policy 10-33, which formalizes restrictions on wireless communication devices in classrooms to comply with a new state statute commonly referred to in the presentation as Senate Bill 11.

"It is therefore the policy of Rio Rancho Public Schools to restrict the use of wireless communication devices during instructional hours," Michelle Havel, executive director of student services, read for the board. The draft defines "wireless communication device" broadly to include phones, smartwatches, tablets, earbuds and gaming devices and defines "powered down" as switched off, not merely on silent or vibrate.

Nut graf: The policy would require devices to be powered down and stored during instructional hours unless allowed by licensed personnel for instructional purposes. It includes carve-outs for individualized education programs (IEPs), Section 504 plans and health plans, allows teacher-authorized educational use of school-issued devices, and permits device use in emergencies.

Key provisions presented: The draft states that recording, photographing or videoing others in locations where individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy (locker rooms, health offices, restrooms) is prohibited. It also requires annual, developmentally appropriate digital citizenship instruction for grades K'012, covering screen-time effects and social media risks. Offenses would be handled under existing school discipline matrices.

Board and superintendent comments: Dr. Cleveland said the policy aligns with prior district practice but noted it is now statutory. "For the first time, some consequences for noncompliance" are in the statute, Cleveland said, and asked for broad community communication and staff support ahead of the school year.

On school buses and documenting incidents: Cleveland and Havel discussed clarifying bus rules. "We may want to add that in specifically," Cleveland said, noting many incidents of inappropriate recording occur on bus rides. She emphasized encouraging students to seek help from staff rather than record incidents: "In a fight situation, instead of going for help, they whip out the phones and start filming it. This is gonna be a violation of this policy, and it's also gonna be a violation of state law. But I think above what's the law, it's what's right." The policy is a first reading; no board action was taken.

Discipline and communication: Havel said phone-related discipline is already part of existing matrices and typically begins with warnings and may progress to in-school or out-of-school suspension for inappropriate uses. The presentation advised more proactive communication with parents about the statutory change before school starts.

Ending: The board will consider the policy in subsequent readings; staff said they will coordinate communications and consider explicitly noting school-bus applicability in the policy text before a final vote.