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Yuma Union board highlights new handbook changes, enforces no-phones-in-class rule
Summary
The Yuma Union High School District presented a redesigned student handbook and reiterated a new rule—students may not have cellphones visible during instructional time—while stressing the handbook aligns exactly with district policy and aims to protect instructional minutes.
The Yuma Union High School District governing board heard a presentation on the district—s redesigned student handbook and a districtwide cell-phone rule during its Nov. 2025 meeting. Eric Patton, the district—s chief communications officer, said the handbook was redesigned to be more user-friendly and is being published in both English and Spanish; the district received a Spanish proof the afternoon of the meeting and expects online publication in the coming weeks.
Patton said the handbook was reworked to match board policy verbatim to reduce family confusion and that it will be available in multiple digital formats (PDF and an interactive flip-book) with QR links from the district website. He described three common dress-code concerns principals raised—clothing with alcohol/tobacco/drug imagery, exposed undergarments and obscene language or images—and said enforcement begins with a conversation among administrator, student and, if appropriate, a parent to identify supports before punitive steps.
On cell phones, Patton explained a spring law adopted for the 2025–26 school year and district practice prohibit students from having phones out during instructional time; phones are permitted during passing periods, lunch, before school and on buses. "Students can't have cell phones out during instructional time," Patton said. Principals and the superintendent reported anecdotal reductions in phones used in class and said many students have voluntarily complied.
Board members asked operational questions about emergency access to phones; a principal explained phones are not locked away and students can access their backpacks within a few seconds if needed. The district also said smart watches have not been a notable issue except during certain testing situations. Patton and staff emphasized the handbook is available on the district home page without a login and that the district publicized changes via ParentSquare and social media.
The presentation concluded with an invitation for board questions; no policy vote occurred on the handbook at this meeting, and Patton said the handbook will be updated publicly once final proofs are approved.
