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Orono board reviews first reading of policy adding student cell-phone rules under new Minnesota law
Summary
Board received first reading of Policy 5.24 (Internet Technology and Cell Phone Acceptable Use and Safety); staff said Minnesota Statute section 121A.73 requires a student cell-phone policy by March 15, 2025 and the proposed policy summarizes expectations while delegating procedures to administrators.
The Orono School Board on Feb. 10 held a first reading of proposed revisions to policy 5.24 — retitled Internet Technology and Cell Phone Acceptable Use and Safety — to incorporate new statutory requirements on student cell-phone use.
Dr. Scott Alger, the district’s executive director of human resources, told the board the Minnesota Legislature added a requirement and that the district must adopt a student cell-phone policy by March 15, 2025. "All school districts according to the new statute and charter schools must implement a student cell phone policy no later than 03/15/2025," Alger said during the presentation.
Alger described the committee’s approach: incorporate the cellphone language into the existing acceptable-use policy rather than create a separate policy, and keep policy-level language focused on governing principles while delegating specific procedures to administration. He said the policy draft adds cell-phone expectations in a new section but does not lay out day-to-day procedures; administrators will implement the details.
Superintendent Dr. Fletcher told the board that the district already operates phone-free procedures in its K–8 buildings and restricts cell-phone use during instructional time at Orono High School. She said families and staff have expressed gratitude for the earlier local restrictions and noted student compliance. "Learning environments are better without cell phones," Fletcher said.
The policy committee outlined guiding principles used to draft the revision: keep policy at the governance level, incorporate required statutory language and MSBA recommendations, provide statute references at the end of policy documents, and maintain consistent terminology across policies. The board was asked to submit feedback prior to a scheduled second reading on Feb. 24 and an anticipated approval before the March 15 statutory deadline.
No vote was taken on Feb. 10; the board received the first reading and staff invited comment ahead of the next meeting.
