Sierra Vista Unified District asks families to keep student devices off and out of sight under new state law

Interim Superintendent Terry Romo of the Sierra Vista Unified District (4175) notified families that Governor Hobbs signed House Bill 2484 and that, under the new law, students’ personal devices must be turned off and stored out of sight during the school day, with limited exceptions.

Romo said the district’s existing Governing Board Policy JK R aligns with the state law and asked families to support enforcement as the new school year begins. "While we recognize that many students carry personal devices, they must be turned off and stored out of sight," Romo said, adding that the district “would highly suggest that they are kept in the students' backpacks.”

The announcement spelled out different expectations by grade level: for K–8 students, the district said "no cell phones or other personal technology may be used from the time the first bell rings until the end of the day." High school students may use phones before and after school and at lunchtime, the message said.

Romo noted the law allows specific exceptions, including "educational purposes during an emergency, and certain medical conditions." The announcement did not specify disciplinary steps, enforcement procedures, or how medical exceptions will be documented.

The message was delivered under the SVUSD abbreviation and signed by Romo; the district name is reported here as Sierra Vista Unified District (4175) to match the official spelling used in district records. The district did not provide a timetable for any changes to student handbooks or for how staff will implement the policy in classrooms.

"By working together, we can help students stay focused on learning and reduce distractions in the classroom," Romo said. Families were asked for cooperation as the district begins the school year.