St. Paul board adopts Policy 5.50 restricting cell phone and personal electronic use in schools

The St. Paul Public Schools Board of Education adopted Policy 5.50 Feb. 18, setting district-wide expectations for student use of cell phones and personal electronic devices.

Jody Danielson, director of the Office of Schools and Learning, presented the third reading and summarized changes since the January draft. Key changes included (1) limiting alternative school-level exception plans for lunch or passing time to grades 9–12, with plans required to explicitly include an objective to reduce use; (2) clarifying that smartwatches are encompassed as personal electronic devices; and (3) codifying exceptions for medical needs, IEP accommodations, volunteer first responders and situations in emergency operations plans. Danielson said implementation begins in 2025 and that policy language will be included in school handbooks and communicated to families.

Board members discussed enforcement and practicality. Several directors said distinguishing smartwatch features beyond time/date is operationally difficult and could lead to uneven enforcement; others said leaving smartwatches in the policy provides clarity about devices that can transmit or record. Board members and staff also noted pending statewide legislation that would prescribe district cellphone policy elements; one board member said the version he reviewed included smartwatches.

The board adopted Policy 5.50 on a unanimous roll-call vote. Directors asked administration to communicate implementation plans to families and to provide support and training for staff.

Vote: Yes — Directors Ward, Vu, Allen, Carrillo, Franco, Valiant and Henderson (7–0). Outcome: approved unanimously.

Provenance: The policy presentation and discussion open at 01:22:15 in the meeting transcript; the final vote occurs at 01:55:27.