District 100 board approves new cell phone and electronic-device policy; committee to review in October

The Belvedere District 100 Board of Education on a voice and roll-call vote approved a district-wide cell phone and electronic-device use policy after administrators presented the policy and said it was the product of a yearlong research and stakeholder process. The motion to approve the policy was made by Member Young and seconded by Member Piggie; the measure passed on a roll-call vote with all board members recorded as voting in the affirmative.

Why it matters: District leaders said the policy responds to research linking constant device access with reduced student wellness and learning, and that a single district policy — rather than teacher-by-teacher rules — is intended to make enforcement consistent across schools.

The policy and what it requires - District administrators said a 32-member research/stakeholder team (students, teachers, parents and staff) reviewed research and survey responses; the district reported more than 1,700 responses to its community survey. The team recommended restrictions to protect student…