Casa Grande schools propose 'off and away' cellphone rules under new state law

Casa Grande Elementary District staff on Tuesday recommended a new set of student cell-phone procedures that would require students to power off personal wireless devices and keep them in backpacks while on campus, with limited exceptions for documented medical needs and emergencies.

The presentation, led by district technology and policy staff member Miss Bradshaw and introduced by Superintendent Doctor Lecky, framed the recommendations as an implementation of House Bill 2484 and the district's existing board policy IJNDB. "The law restricts it, asks us to limit the use during the school day," Bradshaw told the board as she reviewed survey results and proposed handbook language. "It does not say that we need to ban it during the school day, simply that it has to be limited, with exceptions made for educational purposes if a teacher chooses, or during an emergency."

District staff said they collected family and staff survey data after HB 2484 passed and found disagreement between families and employees about how devices affect learning and social-emotional well-being. Bradshaw summarized the surveys: families cited…