Shawnee Mission reports early drop in referrals after new personal electronic device policy

Shawnee Mission School District officials provided the board an update on implementation of the district’s personal electronic device policy and reported early declines in discipline referrals after putting the policy into practice.

The policy, adopted earlier by the district and implemented in buildings in February, treats grade levels differently: elementary schools have a school‑day ban; middle schools allow device checks only at lockers during passing periods; and high schools “protect instructional time” by requiring devices be put away during lessons while allowing use during passing periods and lunch, district leaders said.

Superintendent Dr. Jason Schumacher told the board the policy was placed in district strategy 4 (technology) after several months of committee work and community input. Schumacher said the committee prioritized “consistent enforcement” as the central goal when…