School board approves tighter limits on student cellphones; amendment to exempt study halls fails

The Green Bay Area Public School District Board of Education on June 9 approved revisions to policy 443.5, tightening rules about student use of wireless communication devices during instructional time.

Board members said the policy is intended to reduce classroom disruptions and standardize expectations across grade levels. The board voted to adopt the revised policy after a nearly hourlong discussion that focused on whether study halls should be treated as instructional time.

Supporters of the revision argued that a consistent rule will reduce disputes between students and staff and improve learning. “Study hall is for study. Period,” Board Member Lynn Gerlach said during the meeting. Staff principals who were consulted told the board they prefer a clear prohibition in study halls, according to a district presenter.

Board Member Andrew moved an amendment to remove the phrase “instructional time is inclusive of study halls” from the policy. He said he wanted study halls treated more flexibly because students use that period for a variety of activities, including extra help, quiet reading or meeting with teachers.

The amendment failed after a roll-call vote; several board members said they wanted a clearer, uniform expectation for students and staff. The main motion to adopt the updated policy then passed; the board clerk reported that all board members voted in favor.

District administrators said the policy applies uniformly across the district’s grade bands and that limited exceptions remain for health-related reasons or explicit, teacher‑authorized instructional uses of devices. A district staff member who reviewed the implementation materials told the board the revised rule would allow a teacher to permit device use when it is explicitly required for instruction.

The board and staff said they expect administrators and teachers to develop consistent building-level procedures and to communicate expectations to families before the new school year begins.

The board also approved related procedural language during the meeting to guide implementation and enforcement. No changes to the district’s broader technology or classroom use policies were adopted at the same time.

Implementation details, including how study halls will be supervised and exceptions recorded, will be handled by building administrators under the revised rule and accompanying procedures.