Board approves policy 524.5 limiting student personal electronic devices during school activities

The Stillwater Area Public Schools board approved Policy 524.5, titled Personal Electronic Communication Devices, after a third reading and public comment period that produced no speakers.

At the third reading, Paul (district staff) reviewed the policy and told the board that no wording changes had been requested since the second reading. “Since our last reading at the last board meeting and the second reading I've not received any input regarding the wording and the policy and so there has not been any changes made between the second reading and the third reading,” he said.

Board members asked for clarification about wearable devices and off‑campus activities. Paul confirmed the policy language covers wearable devices, and the policy’s off‑campus clause allows school administration to “establish guidelines for personal electronic communication device possession and use during off campus school sponsored activities such as extracurricular activities, outdoor and service trips, and school field trips.”

Chair Sherman opened public comment specifically for Policy 524.5; no members of the public spoke. The board then moved to the action vote. The motion and second were recorded but not identified by speaker in the transcript; the board approved the policy by voice vote. The board noted that staff policy 428 already governs staff mobile device use and that staff would return later in the spring with procedural implementation details.

Ending: Policy 524.5 passed on a voice vote; staff will present implementation procedures and communications plans in a later update.