South Pasadena Unified board adopts K–8 "way for the day" phone policy, approves calendar, textbooks and budget

The South Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education on Tuesday, June 24, voted to adopt a K–8 mobile communication-device policy commonly described at the meeting as a “way for the day” approach and approved a series of routine and fiscal items including the 2026–27 instructional calendar, two new high-school textbooks, the 2025–26 Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) and the district budget. The board also approved a one-time enterprise fund transfer intended to help close the district’s budget gap.

Board members said the mobile-device policy was intended to reduce in-school distractions for elementary and middle school students while allowing the district to revisit high-school rules separately. The board’s vote came after more than an hour of public comment and board discussion about implementation, equity and school culture.

Supporters in the public comment period urged the board to pair any phone restrictions with digital-literacy education and compassionate implementation. Heather Bland, a resident who addressed the board during public comment, said, “I want a school culture where students hear walk, walk, walk, not just no running, where guidance replaces shame and curiosity replaces control.” Megan Kaiser, a parent who spoke about a separate student safety concern, described a long-standing trauma case involving her 7-year-old daughter and asked the district to remedy what she said were prior failures to address boundary violations. Kristen Swift, a PTA member, urged the board to adopt the policy and emphasized pairing it with media-literacy instruction: “If we truly value their mental health, focus, and ability to connect with one another, this is a logical step.”

Board discussion touched on developmental differences across grade levels, enforcement concerns and possible hardware solutions for high school students (pouches or secured storage). One board member reported consulting with a policy director at Los Angeles Unified and cited a reported approximate equipment cost of about $25,000 for secured storage pouches as a ballpark figure discussed in other districts. Board members repeatedly emphasized that implementation details would be important and that a separate agenda item would be required to change high-school policy.

In other business the board approved the 2026–27 instructional calendar after committee review and ratification by local labor groups; adopted a new Environmental Science textbook and an AP Economics textbook for the high school after they were made available for peer and parent review; and accepted the LCAP for 2025–26. The board also adopted the district’s 2025–26 budget and approved Resolution 24-25-16, a one-time enterprise fund transfer to help close projected shortfalls.

The meeting opened with a closed session in which the board voted to approve two settlement agreements for student matters and to grant personal leaves of absence. The superintendent reported the closed-session roll-call outcomes at the public meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (items 8.01–8.02): approved (unanimous). - 2026–27 instructional calendar (Agenda 9.01): approved (unanimous). - Environmental Science textbook (Agenda 9.02): approved (unanimous). - AP Economics textbook (Agenda 9.03): approved (unanimous). - Board Policy 5131.8 (Mobile Communication Devices, K–8 "way for the day"): approved (unanimous). - Local Control and Accountability Plan 2025–26 (Agenda 9.05): approved (unanimous). - 2025–26 budget adoption: approved (unanimous). - Resolution 24-25-16 (one-time enterprise fund transfer): approved (unanimous). - Closed session: approved settlement agreements for student ID numbers 4705421894 and 9918576314 (each 5–0); approved a certificated personal leave request for employee KQ5179834 for 12/01/2025–12/05/2025 (5–0); approved a classified personal leave request for employee PZ5278611 (dates not specified) (5–0).

The board chair and superintendent thanked staff and community partners for summer preparations and noted administrative work continuing through July. Several board members recognized outgoing Superintendent Dr. Yance and said the district will welcome incoming Superintendent Dr. Baxter in August.

The meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.