Lakeville Area School Board reviews revised cell phone policy in first reading

The Lakeville Area School District 194 Board of Education spent the bulk of its Jan. 14 meeting reviewing a proposed cell phone policy and related revisions to Policy 208, taking the item as a first reading and delaying any final vote.

Board Chair Matt Swanson opened discussion by asking staff to present the draft. Brenda Albrecht, administrative services, told the board the draft "is a culmination" of work with school principals and legal review. Superintendent Michael Baumann said the policy largely reflects current practice and "has been in practice in the school system for the last, 2 school years. So, it's we're not departing from that either."

The proposed cell phone rules would generally require devices be out of sight during instruction; the draft treats PreK–8 differently from grades 9–12, with PreK–8 expected to keep devices in lockers. Board members debated whether high school students should be required to store phones rather than carry them between classes and raised enforcement and equity questions where lockers are not available.

Directors pressed several operational points. Director Brian Thompson said he envisions "no cell phones or personal electronic devices during the class session" for grades 9–12, with limited use in hallways and at lunch. Director Paul Carbone asked about audio recording risks, asking, "Are we not vulnerable for recording private conversations even though you can't see the phone?" Superintendent Baumann and others characterized that as an enforcement concern. Director Kim Baker proposed strengthening the language by explicitly prohibiting both video and audio recording in the policy: "You could add that to record, clarify it's both video and audio."

Other issues raised included smartwatches and medical-device exceptions. Director Amber Cameron asked how the district handles smartwatches that can perform phone functions and whether devices used for medical management should be treated differently. Director Carly Anderson cited research on youth mental health tied to device use, referencing the book she is "reading right now" and asking for principal perspectives about student social interaction at lunch.

Several directors objected to the way Policy 208 revisions were presented. Director Amber Cameron said the board packet did not show accurate tracked changes and flagged substantive omissions, including removal of the public-comment process and an unexplained change to emergency-policy expiration from 90 days to one year. Cameron said the presented document "is not ready for a discussion" and urged clearer redlines so the board and public can compare drafts.

Superintendent Baumann noted the district compared the draft to Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) model language and emphasized that statutory authority over policy content rests with the local board. The board was reminded that state law and local rules require any revised or new policy to appear on a board agenda at least two times before a final vote; the superintendent described this session as the required first reading. The superintendent also said there is a March deadline tied to the cell phone policy approval process.

No vote was taken on the cell phone policy or the Policy 208 revisions at the Jan. 14 meeting. Directors asked administration to invite high school principals to a future meeting so the board can hear building-level perspectives before making changes.

The board will return the topic for further review and a subsequent reading; any material edits to Policy 208 will be brought back with clearer tracked changes and, at the board's request, principal testimony about in-building application.