Los Alamitos board highlights new mobile-device policy and opens Griffin Center to community

The Los Alamitos Unified School District Board of Education heard a superintendent's report on the district's back-to-school preparations and approved routine business on Tuesday evening.

Superintendent Dr. Pulver told the board most district schools will reopen next week and highlighted orientation activities run by schools to help incoming students acclimate, including middle-school "web day" events and high-school Link Crew programming. "What I love about our schools is the intentional and thoughtful planning that they do to really welcome students," the superintendent said.

Dr. Pulver outlined the district's mobile-device board policy, adopted by the board last year and being implemented this fall. He summarized the policy as "power off, minds on," saying mobile phones, AirPods and smartwatches "should not be utilized on our campuses." Under the policy, K-8 devices are not to be out during the instructional day or passing periods; high-school device use is restricted during instructional periods, with accommodation for students with IEPs or 504 plans.

The superintendent also announced a public open house and ribbon-cutting for the new Griffin Center gym, described as a three-court facility with a roughly 3,000-square-foot weight room, restrooms and concession windows to serve both indoor and outdoor athletics. He credited voter-approved Measure G (2018) with making the project possible and invited the community to a public preview and ribbon-cutting set for Wednesday, Aug. 27, from 6 to 7 p.m.

The board did not take formal action on the policy at the meeting; the remarks were presented as the superintendent's report and informational update. The board then moved on to consent and action items and returned to closed session after completing public business.