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Trustees consider tighter K–8 cellphone limits after district data shows most misuse occurs in high school
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Summary
Staff proposed amending the student code of conduct to prohibit personal-device use during the day for pre-K–8 students (devices must be off and kept in backpacks); district data showed 7,102 misuse incidents, with roughly 72% at high schools.
District administrators presented proposed student-code-of-conduct changes on May 20 that would prohibit personal telecommunication devices during the school day for pre-K through eighth-grade students, require devices to remain turned off in backpacks, and allow exceptions only for students with approved 504 plans or IEPs or for serious emergency calls handled through the front office.
Doctor Waite and other administrators displayed device-violation data the district tracks (MLD: misuse of electronic devices). The tracker showed 7,102 total infractions to date; administrators said about 72% of those infractions occurred at the high school level, with very few at elementary grade levels. Staff also showed that infractions drop substantially after a first offense: the first-offense consequence (device confiscated and returned at end of day; parent contacted) appears to reduce repeat violations.
Under the proposed change, junior-high and middle-school dismissal and cell-phone rules would prohibit use while inside school buildings; staff provided specific dismissal times used to mark when devices could be turned back on after school. Administrators said campuses already enforce varying levels of device restrictions and that most K–8 campuses already maintain a no-phone policy; the proposed code amendment would standardize the rule districtwide for pre-K–8 and remove principal/teacher discretion for K–8 classrooms.
Administrators also noted pending state legislation (cited as House Bill 1481 and Senate Bill 2365) that would affect device rules statewide; district staff told trustees they are monitoring the bills. The proposed K–8 code changes were presented for discussion and information and could return to the board for action at a future meeting.
Ending: Staff offered to provide campus-level infraction breakdowns to trustees; the board did not adopt a final change at this meeting and will consider next steps in June if the board wishes to proceed.
