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State law bars student device use 'bell to bell'; district plans procedures, communications
Summary
Board staff summarized Senate Bill 68 provisions—most notably a ban on student use of personal electronic devices during the school day—and outlined draft procedures, exemptions and a July 30 meeting to finalize building-level implementation and messaging.
At the July 29 board workshop, the district’s legislative update highlighted Senate Bill 68’s classroom-safety and school-security provisions and explained likely local effects beginning in the 2026–27 school year. The most consequential operational change is a statewide requirement that students not use personal electronic communication devices during the school day (a “bell-to-bell” ban), subject to defined exceptions for instructional purposes and bona fide emergencies.
Tara (district legislative lead) told the board the law’s intent is to create a safer, less-distracted learning environment; the district has already limited cell-phone classroom use for several years. The practical impact will focus on hallway and lunch supervision, particularly “power lunch” at the high school. The district is drafting local procedures and a first-reading policy appears on the evening Board meeting agenda.
How implementation might work - Exceptions: staff said devices used for instructional purposes (district-issued Chromebooks or tablets) will remain allowed under instructional-exception rules; emergency and documented 504/IEP accommodations can also create exceptions. Staff said a teacher or administrator could permit a personal device for a specific instructional reason but that such exceptions should be limited. - Logistics: students may keep devices in backpacks; schools are not uniformly planning to lock devices. The district will not assume privacy of medical accommodations and will plan to manage exception documentation discreetly. - Enforcement and tone: staff emphasized the intent is not to create power struggles between adults and students; principals will be provided with procedural guidance on polite, relationship-preserving enforcement. Legal counsel advised that enforcement becomes escalated primarily if device use results in other policy infractions (bullying, harassment, academic integrity violations).
Communication and next steps District staff scheduled a July 30 meeting to finalize procedures and planned a focused community communication before school starts. Staff warned that parents and students may react strongly and that the district will frame the policy as a state mandate (not a district-only choice) while outlining how families can request accommodations. Staff said they will provide guidance to principals, training for staff on consistent expectations and establish follow-up check-ins to monitor implementation.
Other bill provisions and related items Staff also summarized safety-and-security provisions: changes to MAP reporting bands (adding a mid-range grade-level equivalence), Project ADAM cardiac-response planning and the Stop the Bleed requirements; some security items are contingent on state allocations and implementation timelines begin in 2026–27. Staff said Lindbergh already has many elements (AEDs in buildings, Stop the Bleed training completed, emergency plans and active-shooter training templates) and is positioned to comply.
No formal action was taken at the workshop; the board will see a first reading of the new device policy in the evening board meeting and staff will return with final procedural guidance, community messaging and training plans.
