The Oregon City School District superintendent told the board on Aug. 11 that the governor had issued an expectation — described as a ban — on student personal devices during instructional time and that the district must implement a local policy by January. The administrative team said it will draft a policy for board review in September with the hope of approval in October.
Superintendent Doctor Crane said most of the district’s secondary and middle schools already restrict phone use during class time and that new statewide guidance includes personal devices such as smartwatches. “We have to have it in place in January,” she told the board, and administrators will prepare slide decks and family materials to explain the research and rationale behind the change.
Board members asked how the district will secure student and family buy‑in and how the policy will affect open campus lunch privileges at the high school. One board member suggested the district include explicit guidance for students, families and staff that explains the state’s action and the research supporting the ban. Administrators said they will provide student‑focused slides (grade bands such as K–2, 3–5, 6–8 and high school), staff training and family communications that address common concerns, such as how parents can contact students during the school day and how the district will manage exceptions.
Administrators also noted operational questions to resolve, including whether open‑campus lunch for juniors and seniors would allow phone use off campus and how call volumes to school offices might change as families adjust. District leaders said other districts’ experience suggests an initial bump in parent calls that subsides as the culture shifts; they told the board that middle schools already use a bell‑to‑bell approach and cited examples of improved student interactions in cafeteria settings where phones were restricted.
The board discussed possible public backing for the policy and agreed to coordinate visible support once district guidance is finalized. The superintendent said a draft policy is expected in September, followed by a formal board action item intended for approval in October so the district can prepare to comply with the state requirement by January.