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Board clears first reading of new cell-phone policy, asks administrators to write procedures
Summary
The board approved the first reading of Policy 3246 governing student telecommunication devices (cell-phone policy). Trustees and the student representative discussed enforcement, smartwatches and planned parent outreach; administrators will draft procedures on disciplinary steps.
The Prosser School District board approved the first reading of Policy 3246, a revised student telecommunications devices policy that specifies expectations for student cell phones and similar devices. The board moved the policy to first-reading approval by voice vote.
During the discussion, board members and staff emphasized that the policy’s effectiveness will depend on consistent enforcement by administrators and teachers. A staff member said procedures — to be written after policy adoption — will describe disciplinary steps such as warnings and sending a phone to the office, with parents required to retrieve devices after repeated violations.
Student representative Olivia said she thinks the policy is “good and it’s needed as long as it’s enforced.” Trustees and staff also discussed wearable devices. A trustee asked whether a smartwatch would be treated like a cell phone; a staff member replied that “it would be treated like a cell phone because you can text,” and that the practical expectation would be similar: students may wear a watch but should silence notifications and not use it during class.
Board members asked how the district will notify families of the change. Staff said the district will use multiple channels: parent email attachments or links, an auto-dialer, ParentSquare messages and Facebook posts. Staff noted ParentSquare can generate many notices and the district may return to an auto-dialer prompt in addition to social media and email to reach families.
The first reading passed by voice vote; board members indicated approval by saying “aye.” Staff said the board will return with formal procedures for implementation, including any disciplinary steps and timelines for making up missed work, before the policy takes effect in the student handbook.
The meeting transcript did not include the final wording of the procedures or a specific effective date for the policy; staff said they expect procedures to be prepared and brought back for board information prior to full implementation.
