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Centennial SD board debates stricter classroom cell-phone rules; policy 2-37 to return to policy committee April 15
Summary
Board members argued over a proposed electronic device policy that would leave many decisions to administrators; several called for a near-total classroom ban. The board directed staff to gather input and return the draft for further committee review on April 15.
Board members at the Centennial School District work session spent an extended portion of the March 11 meeting debating a proposed electronic-device policy (draft policy 2-37) and asked for more specificity before adoption.
Board member Michael Martin urged a strict rule: "There would be no cell phones permitted in the classroom without special exception should a student have particular unusual needs, period." Several other members and staff said the draft is based on a Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) template and that administrative regulations are intended to provide details on implementation.
"The superintendent's designee shall develop administrative regulations to implement this policy," a district staff member noted, repeating language in the draft that led some board members to ask for clearer, uniform rules across all schools. Middle school principals already require students not to have phones out or on display, staff said, while high school practices vary. Several board members warned that a strict high-school ban could prompt a strong parental response.
The board did not vote on the policy. Trustees directed staff to collect suggested language from members and administrators and bring an amended draft to the policy committee for review and discussion; the board scheduled the policy for reassessment at the April 15 meeting. Board members asked that suggested changes be emailed to district staff by the end of the week so they can be incorporated into the policy-committee draft.
Board members and staff identified several implementation considerations that will inform the draft: different developmental/operational needs at elementary, middle and high school levels; procedures for exceptions tied to documented student needs; and how progressive discipline would be applied when families object to enforcement.
The discussion included references to state and neighboring-state developments: a board member noted that New Jersey has pursued a statewide approach to classroom phone bans and other states have moved toward stricter rules, but the district's staff advised that Pennsylvania has not mandated a statewide ban.
No formal action was taken at the March 11 meeting. The board expects additional drafts and administrative regulations to be worked on in consultation with building principals and to return for committee and board consideration in April.
