Policy committee advances electronic devices policy to second read after detailed debate over enforcement, storage and evaluation

The Wallingford-Swarthmore School District policy committee voted to send Policy 237, the district's electronic devices policy and accompanying administrative regulation (AR), to the full board for a second reading after extended debate over enforceability, storage locations and monitoring.

Committee members and administrators spent the meeting clarifying definitions and enforcement mechanics. Dr. Scanlon, speaking for district staff, said the committee had tightened definitions, including changing "instructional period" to "the time between the start and end of a class period," and had proposed a definition of "noninstructional period" to cover times such as lunch and passing periods.

The committee and staff discussed where devices must be kept during class time. Under the proposed AR, during instructional periods electronic devices must be turned off and "away" or stored in lockers, backpacks or designated storage areas such as cell-phone caddies or classroom shelves. Committee members pressed staff…