District 5 begins enforcing ban on personal electronic devices during the school day; grants to pay for pouches and storage units

District officials told trustees on Dec. 9 that the board‑approved policy prohibiting personal electronic devices during the instructional day is being implemented across District 5 and that funding to acquire storage solutions is in hand.

Dr. Mike Harris, chief of student services and planning, said the district approved policy JICJ to restrict access to personal electronic communication devices from the start of the school day until dismissal, with written exemptions for students with IEPs or 504 plans and exceptions for buses, field trips and athletic events. He said schools have begun rolling out the policy and that student advisory feedback has been generally positive.

Grant support: Harris and trustees discussed a state Safe Schools grant the district received in the prior year for roughly $130,000 and a follow‑on award this year that the administration said was “about twice as much” after application. The district is using those funds to pilot phone pouches and storage units at secondary campuses and plans a hybrid roll‑out tailored to campus needs. Trustees asked whether principals may adopt more restrictive measures; staff said principals will have discretion to use pouches, storage boxes or a mix depending on campus logistics.

Why it matters: The local implementation shows how state guidance is translating into school operations and how grant dollars are being directed to buy equipment intended to support compliance. The district said it will follow the law’s timeline for full enforcement and that exceptions for medical or IEP/504 needs are preserved.

Provenance: Administrators discussed the policy and grant awards during the superintendent report; trustees asked follow‑up questions about grant amounts and principal discretion.