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Tacoma School District principals describe varied approaches and challenges to student cell‑phone use
Summary
District principals told the Tacoma School Board that cell‑phone restrictions are being set at the school level under district policy; three principals described strategies ranging from targeted enforcement to full "cell‑phone free" campuses and cited reduced on‑campus recording, fewer fights and higher classroom engagement.
Superintendent Garcia opened a board study session by framing a districtwide review of personal electronic device rules, saying the board is in an information‑gathering phase and will not make decisions at the meeting.
Three Tacoma School District principals — Lisa Gibbs of Edna Travis Elementary School, Amy Latimer of Baker Middle School and David McColgan of Mount Tahoma High School — presented how their schools apply district policy and described results and implementation challenges.
The discussion matters because district policies give both broad district authority and specific local discretion: policy 2022 authorizes the superintendent to adopt guidelines for electronic resources and personal devices; regulation 6973 governs acceptable use of district networks; and discipline rules in 3240 and 3241 set districtwide responses when student device use disrupts learning.
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