Mesa board reads policy revisions tied to new state laws; trustees press for clearer enforcement on phones, data and reporting

Mesa Public Schools trustees spent substantial time Tuesday reading proposed revisions to five district policies that the district says are necessary to conform to recent state legislation.

The policy review, presented by staff, covered: Policy 1401 (Parents’ and legal guardians’ rights in education), Policy 3403 (Technology), Policy 5305 (Student Code of Conduct), Policy 4204 (Mandatory Reporting) and Policy 5303 (Student Records). Staff said the proposed changes respond to bills passed during the recent legislative session and include new statutory requirements such as restricting student access to social media and wireless communication devices during the school day, revised mandatory‑reporting obligations, and changes to directory information under FERPA.

Staff reviewed several statutes by name and number as the basis for the revisions. They said House Bill 2484 creates a new statute (cited in presentation as ARS 15‑1120.05) requiring districts to restrict student access to wireless communication devices during the school day, while allowing exceptions for medical needs, emergencies and…