Board narrows phone guideline, agrees to courtesy notice for school visits

Washington County Public Schools board members refined their operating norms during a January work session, keeping limits on electronic-device use during meetings but agreeing to allow use for emergencies and approving a change that makes advance notice of school visits a courtesy rather than a strict requirement.

Board discussion began after a member proposed removing the phrase "business use" and replacing it with emergency exceptions. "When possible, a courtesy, as a courtesy to school principals, a 24 hour notice should be given but is not necessary," one board member said, urging flexibility for spur-of-the-moment classroom observations. Another member noted the need to "lead by example" on phone use: "We tell our kids they have to keep their phones away," that speaker said, while acknowledging staff and family emergencies can arise.

Administrators and the board agreed to keep the phones guideline but to clarify it permits emergency use. The board likewise agreed to change the school-visit language to encourage, not require, 24-hour notice so principals are not routinely asked to drop other duties.

The change is procedural: no formal motion or vote was recorded in the work session transcript. Paralegal Jamie Brown and district staff were present during the discussion to record the edits, and the board indicated the revised wording will be reflected in the next business-meeting agenda for final approval.

Board members said the goal is to balance transparency and oversight — allowing trustees to visit schools and observe while minimizing disruption to school leaders and classrooms.