Beatrice board hears legislative session update; district to survey on new cell phone policy

The Beatrice Public Schools Board of Education received an update on pending state legislation and a reminder that the district must adopt a formal cell-phone policy before the start of the 2025–26 school year.

Mr. Stan (legislative report) told the board that lawmakers have limited time left in the legislative session and listed bills the district is monitoring, including LB306, LB653 (an education package), LB440 (a statewide leave fund proposal), a modified provision from LB682, and the possibility that LB550 (religious time-release instruction) could be attached to larger education legislation.

The district administrator said the new state law will require the district to convert a handbook practice on student phones into a board policy and that the district plans to use a survey to gather input from staff, students and parents before the policy is finalized. “We will be required to get input from staff, students, and parents before the inception or the start of the school year next year,” the administrator said, explaining the short turnaround.

Why it matters: several of the bills named could change district obligations for leave, retirement budgeting and allowable outside employment for superintendents; the cell-phone policy change imposes a procedural requirement and a fast timeline for community engagement ahead of the 2025–26 school year.

Discussion and next steps: board members heard the report and the administrator said the district will prepare and run a survey this spring/summer, and that legal counsel will be involved in drafting the eventual policy.