Parent urges stricter cell-phone limits as board adopts electronic-devices policy

Janice Sanderson, a parent who said she served on the district’s ad hoc committee on cell-phone rules, urged the board to adopt stricter limits for middle- and high-school students and to ensure principals enforce rules in study halls.

"I'm here to speak on the post cell phone policy of this district. I was 1 of the parents that sat on the ad hoc committee," Janice Sanderson said during public comment, adding she hoped principals will enforce the policy at the high-school level and not allow phones in study hall.

Board members later advanced policy 5131.81 — described in committee as an electronic-devices policy — for second reading and adoption. Theresa Bizet moved the policy for second reading and adoption; Al Almeida seconded. The board carried the motion by voice vote.

Why it matters: The adopted policy governs device use across the district’s schools and follows months of committee review and public input. During public comment Sanderson and other parents suggested stricter enforcement at secondary levels and raised concerns about classroom distraction and social pressures that cause students to bring phones to school.

Board process: The policy came from the policy committee and was presented for second reading and adoption at the meeting; some other discipline-related policies (suspension/expulsion) were left at first reading with a request to add explicit references to the code of conduct and to bullying in future drafts.

Ending: The board approved the electronic-devices policy and directed the policy committee and staff to circulate the adopted language and implementation steps to schools.