Lakewood Board of Education members on Dec. 1 heard a presentation on a student cell‑phone policy the district must adopt by Jan. 1 under House Bill 96.

Dr. Palumbo and district administrators told the board HB96 generally outlaws cell‑phone use during the instructional day but exempts use required by an IEP or 504 plan, use necessary to monitor or address a health concern, and use permitted by a school’s comprehensive emergency management plan. Administrator remarks noted that the statute does not define the statutory phrase “instructional day,” and staff said the Ohio Department of Education has given guidance that the instructional day could be interpreted from arrival to dismissal, though that definition is not codified in statute.

The district’s recommended operational approach divides rules by level: elementary students would not bring phones to school; middle‑school students would keep phones in lockers; and high schools would use designated 'zone' allowances so phones could be used during non‑instructional times such as passing periods and lunch. “At the high school level, we have a little bit more flexibility in what we call zones,” an administrator said while outlining exceptions for supervised activities and field trips.

Board members asked how the district will enforce the rule and what disciplinary steps would be used when students repeatedly stray from the policy. The administration said building‑level staff (teachers and principals) would address incidents, parents would be contacted for repeated violations, and chronic misuse at the high‑school level could lead to suspension in rare cases; staff emphasized that the policy can be revised if state guidance changes.

A trustee also flagged that the draft policy’s anti‑bullying section appeared to show struck‑through language referring to “sexual orientation” and “transgender.” Administration replied those protections remain in force because the model policy language (from Neola) covers the categories; the administration said the strike‑through was a redundancy cleanup and not intended to remove protection.

The cell‑phone policy was presented to the board as an item for the board’s consideration and was listed on the evening’s agenda as a board policy revision; the transcript does not record a final roll‑call vote on the policy during the meeting. District staff said they will implement the policy by Jan. 1 consistent with state law and will work with building administrators, the union, and families on operational details.