Glendale Elementary board adopts technology-use policy aligned with House Bill 2484

The Glendale Elementary School District Governing Board on July 24 approved revisions to policy IJNDB governing student use of electronic devices, saying the changes align district procedures with House Bill 2484 and must be in place before school opens.

Board President Mike Martinez and district staff said a 12-member committee of parents, teachers, principals and administrators reviewed House Bill 2484 and other districts’ procedures and drafted recommended revisions. Norma Hadi, a member of the district’s behavioral health and safety team, told the board the group met in June and July and “created a draft for recommended revisions for the GST procedures.”

The committee recommended that students be asked to set devices to silent or off during instructional time and spelled out a progressive discipline approach. Hadi said, “If a student does misuse their technology or does not follow the guidelines, then there will be some consequences. As a first offense, it will result in a verbal warning followed by a minor infraction noted in Synergy,” and that subsequent offenses “may lead to progressive disciplinary actions, including potential device confiscation, detention, in school suspension, or temporary loss of device privileges.” She added that a confiscated phone “will be confiscated by an administrator” and that the procedures clarified how parents and students can communicate when needed.

To allow the new rules to be in place before classes begin, the board first voted to suspend policy BGB (procedure for adoption/revision) and then approved first and second readings of IJNDB in the same meeting. The motions carried by recorded voice votes: Board Member Wilson — Aye; Board Member Bartels — Aye; Chair Mike Martinez — Aye.

Board and staff repeatedly emphasized that the revisions were produced after consultation with legal counsel and alignment with the statute referenced by the committee. Hadi said the executive team had consulted with legal counsel “to make sure that we were on a line.” The revisions put district procedures in handbooks and establish staff roles for enforcing the rules and notifying parents.

The board’s action was presented as administrative alignment rather than a new disciplinary policy apart from the procedural clarifications. Superintendent Scott Jones was identified in remarks introducing the committee’s work.

The policy change comes as the district prepares for the first day of school on Aug. 4 and follows staff reports that facilities work and device readiness are underway.