Students, staff and district weigh enforcement as governor’s cell‑phone order nears implementation

Students and parents at the Oct. 14 Bend‑LaPine Board meeting urged clearer communication about a governor’s executive order that will require stricter limits on personal electronic devices in classrooms.

Student representatives from La Pine and Caldera high schools told the board they and their peers are uncertain how the new rules will be enforced and what "off and away" means in practice. "Many students described that they felt like it was an inequitable grading system," Olivia Scott said earlier in her student council remarks about standards‑based grading; during the cell‑phone discussion students emphasized confusion and enforcement concerns about the device policy specifically. (Students asked for clearer messaging on whether devices may be kept in cars, lockers or backpacks.)

Deputy Superintendent Dr. Lisa Burke and Kinsey Martin (executive director of policy advocacy and equity) described the rollout plan: staff will finalize a student‑facing lesson that explains the policy’s rationale, exemptions (for medical needs such as diabetes apps), and consequences; the lesson will be reviewed by the Student Voice Council on Nov. 4 and then rolled out to students and teachers between November and December. Dr. Burke said the district must adopt the policy by Oct. 31 and implement it by Jan. 1 in conformance with the governor’s order.

Board members asked for early clarifications beyond January 1 to help administrators, teachers and families prepare. The district’s approach emphasizes both compliance and classroom‑level education; the board did not take additional action beyond asking staff to continue outreach and training.

Next steps: staff will finalize the student lesson, run it by Student Voice Council and BEA for feedback, and provide clearer guidance about exemptions and enforcement to high‑school administrators ahead of the January implementation date.