Nevada R‑V board discusses handbook updates, tightens rules on Bluetooth headphones and device use

Nevada R‑V School District staff reviewed proposed updates to staff and student handbooks at the Board of Education meeting on May 5, 2025, emphasizing tighter language on personal electronic devices, clarifying instructional time and noting an administrative change to bus registration.

The handbook revisions under discussion would define instructional time as 08:10 to 03:18 and more specifically limit personal electronic devices during that period. A staff member said, “Our policy is that they have to stay in their lockers or their backpacks, and essentially if they're out, they will be taken.” The same presenter said the district is “keeping the same 08:10 to 03:18” as the definition of instructional time when describing the handbook edits.

Why it matters: the changes affect students across grade levels, particularly middle-school pupils. District staff said the middle-school policy intentionally differs from the high school’s approach to allow phones during passing time; the proposed update keeps middle-school phones stored during the day.

Key changes discussed - Instructional time: The handbook language would designate instructional time as 08:10 to 03:18 or “once the student crosses the threshold of the classroom door,” aligning the middle-school schedule with the high school while keeping more restrictive rules for younger students. The transcript includes the specific times discussed.

- Smartwatches and medical exceptions: Staff noted the state law allows smartwatches to be worn during the school day as long as they are not used as a communication device. The presenter said the district removed a smartwatch only when it was being used to text. The presenter also described one current medical exception: “We do have 1 student that keeps his cell phone on him at all times. He is diabetic and his pump is connected to that.” That device is kept in a small fanny pack.

- Bluetooth headphones: The proposed revisions would ban Bluetooth headphones districtwide. A staff member explained the rationale: students frequently use Bluetooth headphones to hide device use and wired headphones can plug directly into Chromebooks.

- Bus registration and administrative updates: The district will stop using a separate bus form; bus registration will be handled through annual school registration, and parents may contact the transportation department directly to make changes, according to the packet review presented to the board.

Enforcement and local practice: Presenters said confiscation this year was limited—two cell phones and one Apple Watch were removed after in-day use—and noted that when students lose locker privileges their backpacks are kept by a teacher, with phones kept where backpacks are stored. A board member asked repeatedly whether backpacks must remain in lockers; presenters clarified that backpacks are required to stay in lockers and if a student has lost locker privileges, backpacks are kept by the teacher.

Meeting procedure note: The meeting opened with a motion and a second to approve the agenda with additions; a verbal “Aye” was recorded. The transcript does not record a formal vote or recorded adoption of the handbooks at this meeting.

No formal adoption recorded: The transcript does not show a board vote adopting the proposed handbook language; the record contains a discussion and clarification of specific provisions but no recorded motion to adopt the handbooks.