The Watertown City School District Policy Committee told the board the district has selected its first student board member and is finalizing policy language for a state‑required cell‑phone restriction for the coming school year.

Board members introduced Caleb Montalvo as the district’s first student board member under a new state requirement. The superintendent and board members described a selection process that included administrator and teacher recommendations, an application, and interviews conducted by board representatives. “I am excited and honored to have been chosen for this position as associate … for the Board of Education. This role is important to me and our fellow students, as this is our way to voice our concerns to you,” Caleb said during introductory remarks.

Policy Committee chair Laurie Converse reported the committee will propose changes to Policy 1003 (Community Relations) and to the student‑to‑board policy; the committee aims to present final language to the full board for approval by July 1 so the policy can be in place by the state’s required effective date. “We are going to make some changes and upload it to the Board for review,” Converse said.

Committee members reviewed the state’s requirement for a student board member (an ex officio member who does not participate in confidential executive‑session matters) and proposed rules for what happens if the student cannot complete a one‑year term; the committee recommended that the building principal will appoint candidates to be interviewed by the superintendent and brought to the board for review.

On the cell‑phone policy, the district reported a required “bell‑to‑bell” ban on student cell‑phone use next school year. The committee said it solicited feedback from stakeholders — including teachers, administrators, student advisory and parents — and conducted a parent survey. The policy will require secure storage of internet‑enabled devices during instructional time: at the secondary level this will be lockers and at elementary grades through sixth grade the district will use secure boxes placed in classrooms to hold phones and earbuds. The committee noted it is still awaiting final legal feedback on regulations that will accompany the policy language.

Ending: The Policy Committee will send revised policy language to the board for action before July 1 to meet the state deadline; further regulatory details and implementation guidance will be published once legal review is complete.