Board raises questions over personal electronic-device policy; schedules work session review

During the Sept. 4 meeting, board members and staff discussed the first-read personal electronic-device policy, expressing concern that the draft was unclear on how rules should be applied at the high-school level, particularly in relation to open campus and lunchtime use.

One board member noted conflicting communications and said the policy language needed clearer alignment with current practice: whether devices are allowed on campus generally, permitted only off campus, or permitted at specific times such as lunch. Staff and other board members agreed there was a discrepancy between the policy as drafted and how some high-school rules appeared to be applied in practice, and asked the administration to reconcile the differences.

The board directed staff to revise the first-read policy and return to a work session on Sept. 18 for further discussion. Board members proposed that, if an acceptable revision were completed, the policy could be scheduled for a second read and adoption at the next regular meeting with a target adoption date by Oct. 31; if not, the board said it would pull the item from the consent calendar for further deliberation.

Board members emphasized they would invite staff affected by the policy — including building administrators and high-school staff — to participate in the Sept. 18 work session so the board could assess how proposed policy language would work in practice.