Sweet Home task force readies 'distraction-free' plan for July board review; state submission expected by August

A Sweet Home Central School District committee presented its draft “distraction-free schools” plan at a recent town hall and to the board on June 30, saying the plan will be adjusted for a July 24 board review and that the district expects to submit the required plan to the state by Aug. 1.

The plan matters because it will set district policy on Internet-enabled devices in classrooms — including cell phones, smartwatches and headphones — and because state guidance and limited funding were discussed as potential supports for implementation.

Dr. Wilson, who led the task force presentation, said the committee met multiple times, conducted student luncheons to solicit student input and held a town-hall meeting attended by about 15–20 community members. “We collected questions from the students as well as questions from that town hall,” Dr. Wilson said, and the plan will be refined and brought back to the board at its next meeting for possible adoption into the code of conduct.

Budget and state funding: Board members and staff discussed governor’s budget language and state funding. Dr. Genestri and committee members said the governor’s executive budget proposal included about $13,000,000 for this initiative statewide; the transcript does not record a confirmed district allocation. District staff said the state’s guidance on how funds would be distributed and what expenses would be eligible was still forthcoming.

Classroom implementation questions raised by the committee included how to treat headphones and other learning devices that may be necessary for classroom instruction. Dr. Wilson said the committee discussed providing classroom equipment so students would not have to supply Wi-Fi-enabled devices themselves.

Next steps: Committee members said they expect an adjusted plan to be presented for board review on July 24; if the board approves, the policy would be incorporated into the district’s code of conduct for the next school year. Staff said they are coordinating a communication plan with building principals and Christine Slagle to ensure each building has procedures in place for staff and families.

What was not decided: The board did not adopt a final policy at the June 30 meeting, and any allocation of state funds or district dollars was not approved in open session. The exact district share of any state funds was not specified in the meeting record.