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Wasatch County board opens local review of new state cellphone law, seeks school-level data
Summary
The Wasatch County School Board on Aug. 26 opened a local review of a state cell-phone law (Senate Bill 178), agreeing to study the issue, request local school pilot data and host presentations before any final rule change.
Wasatch County School Board members on Aug. 26 began a multiweek review of a new state law limiting student cellphone use in classrooms, telling staff they want local school data and community feedback before setting district rules.
The discussion, introduced by the board’s policy committee and staff, focused on how to comply with Utah Senate Bill 178 while preserving teacher discretion and accommodating students with documented needs. Director Eric Campbell framed the item as the start of a longer conversation rather than an immediate policy change and said the district will solicit school-level metrics and community input before acting.
Why it matters: proponents of stricter limits point to research linking reduced device access to improved focus and mental-health indicators; opponents and some board members warned that research can be uneven and stressed the need for local evidence and clear exceptions. Brianne Dickerson, a board member, said the district should consider what specific outcomes it seeks: “We want to make decisions based on data and based on research, and gather feedback to see … is the policy best for students, best for families.”
What the board asked staff to do: collect TMS pilot data (a teacher-driven trial where classrooms used boxes or pouches to hold phones during instruction), arrange a presentation of the Policy Project materials the committee reviewed, and share any state-produced resources expected within about a month. Several board members urged that the district monitor metrics such as behavioral incidents, attendance, academic indicators and mental-health referrals to evaluate impacts.
Board members emphasized teacher discretion in implementing any local rules allowed under state law. The board discussed a one-year study period to gather local evidence and return with recommendations. No vote or binding policy change was made at the meeting; staff will report back with local school data and schedule the requested presentations and community outreach.
Next steps: staff will compile TMS pilot results and other school metrics, provide the Policy Project presentation to the full board, and initiate community conversations before a formal action item is scheduled.
