Nebo board debates tiered cell‑phone limits, enforcement and smartwatches after state law change

The Nebo School District board and staff spent much of their April 17 work session discussing a proposed rewrite of the district's student electronic device policy to conform with Senate Bill 178 and to reduce classroom distractions.

Board members and district committee members described a tiered approach that would set different rules for elementary, middle, junior high and high schools and would adopt the statutory definitions and the bill's baseline rule that students may not use phones during classroom hours unless the district's policy specifically permits it. District staff said the draft draws language from Provo School District and other larger districts and would require phones to be 'stowed' during instruction at lower grade levels while allowing more limited access at high schools for between‑class periods and lunch.

Why it matters

Board members framed the revision as responding to a state requirement while also trying to reduce in‑class distractions and protect student safety during emergencies. Trustees and administrators repeatedly raised enforcement tradeoffs: a narrow, enforceable rule may be easier for staff to implement but can create pushback from families; broader restrictions are harder to enforce consistently across multiple secondary sites.

What was discussed

- Statutory baseline and district approach: Committee member Jeff (policy committee) told the board the draft adopts definitions and a 'no phone during classroom hours' default from Senate Bill 178, then layers a district tiered model for what is permitted at different school levels. He said the committee borrowed implementation details from Provo's existing policy.

- Tiering by school level: The draft would generally require phones to be stowed (backpack, purse or bag) in elementary and middle schools; junior highs would permit use at lunch and before/after school; high schools would permit lunch and class‑change access in the current draft. Trustees discussed moving junior high or ninth grade language to be more protective given adolescent development concerns.

- Smartwatches: Board members and staff debated whether smartwatches should be treated the same as phones. The draft allows smartwatches to be worn but requires they be set so notifications cannot be received. Several trustees said that vibration and notification features still cause distraction; administrators warned that distinguishing watch types and enforcing settings may be operationally difficult.

- Enforcement options and pouches: Trustees discussed enforcement models used by other districts, from teacher/administrator confiscation to school‑managed pouches that students keep in class. Staff described vendor options (lower‑cost pouches usable with a magnet vs. more expensive secure pouches) and said some districts have bought teacher inventories of lower‑cost pouches for classroom use; administrators noted the recurring supervision burden and potential parent complaints.

- Equity, feasibility and resource constraints: Administrators cautioned that strict, bell‑to‑bell rules in all high schools would be hard to implement where campuses are open for lunch and where some schools have more adult supervision than others. They also noted that more rigorous enforcement consumes staff time and social capital.

Public comment and related community input

During public comment at the regular meeting that followed, Dr. Mike Fulmer, a pediatrician from Spanish Fork, urged the board to treat reduced screen time as a public‑health priority: 'As a society, we've made a mistake. We have to apologize to our children. We have to fix the problem,' he said, citing increases in anxiety, poor sleep and other youth mental‑health harms he treats. Members of three high‑school cheer programs thanked the board for allowing teams to compete at national events and described the importance of travel to team bonding; trustees noted travel policy and fee‑waiver protections will remain considerations when weighing athletic and activity access.

Next steps and staff direction

The board did not adopt a final device policy on April 17. Instead, trustees asked the policy committee and staff to refine enforcement language, revisit smartwatch rules, and gather additional feedback from junior high principals and school‑level leadership groups. The committee plans to revise the draft over the next month and bring a refined proposal back for further review and a June approval vote.

Board members who spoke (first reference includes role/title): Board member Scott Wilson; Board member Shauna Wernick; Board member Kristen Metz; Board member Rick Hage; Board member Sean (last name not specified); Committee member Jeff (policy committee); Administrator Bart (last name not specified); Administrator Dave (last name not specified); Public commenter Dr. Mike Fulmer, Pediatrician, Spanish Fork; Student commenters Hayden Marshall (graduating senior, Springville High cheer captain), Lily (senior, Springville High), Hannah Wei (Spanish Fork cheer team).