Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Device Policy And Community Outreach topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board members question governor—s abrupt cell-phone order and highlight summer programs and July 15 resource fair
Summary
At the July 8 meeting directors raised concerns about an abrupt executive order from the governor on student cell-phone bans and emphasized local decision-making; board members and student advisers also highlighted summer programs and a district resource fair on July 15.
Director Dr. Sandagari told the board she had received many calls after the governor issued an executive order on cell-phone bans and said the district should make local decisions rather than implement abrupt statewide directives.
"I wish this was left to the school board and not such abrupt decision," Dr. Sandagari said, noting practical concerns in a district of the Salem-Keizer School District's size and questioning how enforcement and funding would be handled.
Other directors acknowledged mixed community views. Director Sandagari praised the superintendent for taking a phased, feedback-driven approach to any changes to student device use. Director Lisa Harnish and Director Corina Guzman Ortiz spoke about summer work to register students and support early literacy, with Guzman Ortiz emphasizing a commitment to centering students across the district’s more than 38,000 students.
Student advisers Jolie McMahon and Jackson Woods described their priorities for the year: amplifying student voices and supporting campus programs. Jackson Woods highlighted programs at Sprague High School — the unified program, a Pacific Islander club, LGBTQ club, and minority representation in speech, debate and the arts — and said he hoped the district would continue to support those offerings.
Directors also promoted a Salem-Keizer resource fair scheduled for July 15; the board clarified families do not need to pre-register to attend but will register students when they come and that district staff and community partners will be available to assist with enrollment verification and connections to summer services.
The comments were part of board reports and public updates; no formal policy action or board vote was taken on device policy at the meeting.
