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District outlines bell-to-bell phone-free plan for fall; locked classroom storage and parent pickup proposed
Summary
District staff presented implementation plans for a device-free (bell-to-bell) policy next school year: classroom locked boxes, parent pickup for first offenses, documented violations, exceptions via IEP/504/medical documentation, and training and communication for staff and families.
District staff presented a detailed plan for implementing the board-approved device-free-schools policy, explaining how the district will operationalize a bell-to-bell prohibition on personal phones and other non-school devices.
Carissa (district staff member leading implementation) told the board the policy is intended to increase student engagement, reduce cyberbullying and distraction, and support student mental health. The district’s implementation guidance centers on three elements: building-specific logistics (classroom locked boxes and office lock boxes), consistent enforcement across buildings, and communication and training for families and staff.
Key points Carissa outlined: • Bell-to-bell scope: phones, smart watches, earbuds and other personal devices will be off and out of sight from first bell to last bell, with district-issued Chromebooks allowed for schoolwork. • Storage: schools are moving toward classroom locked boxes and office lockboxes rather than individual pouches; staff cited durability and logistics concerns for pouches in large secondary buildings. • First-offense response: staff will take the device and lock it in the office; the device will be released only to a parent or guardian on the first offense (district staff framed this as an intentional family-education step). A third offense will trigger a mandatory meeting with family and administration and a possible education module for the student about device use. • Exceptions: documented medical or IEP/504 needs can allow different arrangements; student support services will manage those determinations. • Safety and emergency procedures: staff said classrooms have phones and intercoms and that district and emergency responders prefer controlling communications during emergencies to limit rumor propagation and avoid overloading circuits.
Carissa said a communication campaign is planned for the summer and back-to-school messages in August, with staff training during fall professional learning. Several board members encouraged using student leaders for positive messaging and providing alternative activities (games, clubs) during lunch and transition times to support cultural change.
The board did not vote on the implementation plan; it asked administration to return with detailed procedures and to begin communication to families before the fall start.
