Board keeps classroom smartphone restriction, asks administrators to monitor data and return with follow‑up

Board members discussed smartphone-device policy changes at length and decided to maintain the current approach—disallowing smart devices in classrooms while permitting use during passing time and lunch—while asking administrators to monitor disciplinary data and report back.

Board discussion summarized staff concerns about “policing” personal devices, mixed survey results from parents and students, and discipline counts for the semester. Several board members noted staff surveys indicated improved classroom engagement since the classroom restriction was implemented, while student responses were less favorable. Administrators said reported smartphone infractions had declined month‑over‑month and that many infractions occurred during passing time or lunch.

Board members expressed reservations about districtwide implementation of storage bags (cost, logistics and limited evidence of effectiveness) and noted parent concerns about being able to reach children during the school day. Middle‑school administrators reported fewer in‑class violations than the high school and said they were considering further limits on lunchtime use; the board did not take a formal policy vote.

The board’s direction was to keep the current classroom restriction, have building administrators continue to standardize procedures for in‑class storage and enforcement, monitor monthly disciplinary data, and consider repeating or expanding the staff/student/parent surveys next school year. Administrators were also asked to consider timing for future surveys (staff suggested repeating in fall 2025 for a full-year comparison).

Ending: The board agreed to maintain status quo for now, asked administrators to standardize enforcement practices building‑by‑building, and to return with comparative data and recommended next steps at a future board meeting.