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School board approves limited cellphone policy change, requests end‑of‑year implementation review
Summary
The Lakeville Public School District School Board voted to approve only Section 15 (cell phone use in classrooms) of proposed Policy 5.24 on Feb. 25 and directed administration to provide an end‑of‑year assessment of the policy’s effects before further changes.
The Lakeville Public School District School Board on Feb. 25 approved Section 15 of Policy 5.24 — the district’s high-level rule on student cellphone use — and asked administration to deliver an end‑of‑year report on the policy’s impact and implementation.
Board discussion before the vote centered on enforcement, classroom variation and the need for data. Several board members said they want to collect teacher, student and parent feedback during the remainder of the school year before deciding whether to expand or tighten the policy for 2025–26.
The motion approved by the board covered only Section 15 of the cellphone policy, leaving other sections unchanged. Board member Carly Anderson asked to pull the policy item for discussion and cited varying reports from principals and teachers about whether current enforcement is working. Directors Brett Nicholson and Brian Thompson and others recommended letting the current restrictions run through the school year and gathering outcome data.
Teacher and public comments earlier in the meeting framed the debate. Dan Recchio, an English teacher at Lakeville North High School, told the board: “Cell phones bring 0 value to our classroom…If we're serious about academics…taking the most distracting device in human history from our classrooms seems like a great way to get our focus back to learning.”
Board members agreed the policy sets a baseline but that building‑level procedures and consistent enforcement are needed. Director Thompson suggested an end‑of‑year summary or small task force to collect teacher, parent and administrator feedback; Director Baker asked administration to gather data on how the policy affects classroom management, bullying and attendance.
After discussion, Director Thompson moved to approve Section 15 only, with a request that the superintendent provide an end‑of‑year assessment of the policy and its implementation; Director Anderson seconded. The board voted in favor; the motion passed.
The board did not adopt a districtwide ban or a uniform exception policy at the meeting. Members reiterated that principals may develop consistent building procedures to implement the district baseline and that the board can revisit the policy after administration reports results.
The implementation review will include teacher and principal feedback and may recommend procedural clarifications or additional disciplinary procedures if problems persist. The board set no immediate enforcement timeline beyond existing school practices; the approved Section 15 will take effect under current implementation until the board receives the year‑end assessment.
