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Board debates stricter cell‑phone limits in schools while complying with new state law
Summary
Board members discussed rescinding or tightening the district’s cell‑phone policy to reduce classroom disruption; members also noted the new state law requires the district to permit access in emergencies and legal staff will present compliant policy drafts.
Hamilton County Board of Education members debated making the district’s cell‑phone rules stricter in classrooms while ensuring compliance with a recent state law that requires access in emergencies and for health needs.
Why it matters: Board members said classroom phone use is a daily enforcement problem and distracts instruction; at the same time the new state law requires that students be permitted to access a wireless communication device in the event of an emergency or to manage health issues. The board discussed how to reconcile enforcement with the statutory access requirement.
Several board members argued for an effective ban during instructional time. Member Joe said many districts have moved to a full ban and that his experience in a summer program showed improved focus without phones. "They need to go away," he said. Other members emphasized the practical need for parents to reach students in emergencies and asked for language that permits a device in a locker or bag for emergency use.
Legal staff and administration noted the district must permit use of a wireless communication device for emergencies; the board also heard that the statute does not explicitly require the device to be the student's personal phone — the student could be allowed access to an office phone or another school device in an emergency. The board discussed practical options including classroom phone pockets or requiring phones to remain in lockers or bags during the school day, with exceptions for documented medical needs.
Direction to staff: The board asked staff to prepare compliant policy drafts and to present two first‑read options at the June meeting: (1) a more restrictive approach aligned with districts that effectively ban phones during instructional time while allowing emergency access; and (2) a version that preserves limited student access consistent with the statute. Staff agreed to provide versions with the redlines removed for clarity and to identify any statute citations that require permissive language.
No final decision was made. Administration said the redlined version presented at the meeting contained language that would not comply with the new state law and that staff would return with statutory‑compliant options.
