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Philomath board prepares policy after statewide direction to ban personal devices in schools
Summary
Administrators told the Philomath SD 17J board a state executive order or directive requires districts to adopt a cell-phone policy by Oct. 31 for a January 1 implementation; the board discussed exemptions, lunch/passing-time challenges and enforcement concerns.
District administrators and board members discussed an impending statewide directive on personal devices and the district’s next steps.
“We are required by October 31 to have a policy in place and have it in effect as of January 1,” a presenter summarizing conference guidance (S6) told the board, citing three categories of exemptions noted in the guidance (medical, IEP and a broad discretionary category). Board members said they expect a sample policy from administrators and noted enforcement concerns such as student access to lunch and passing periods, and liability if staff take possession of a student device.
The board emphasized adherence to the intent of the law rather than searching for procedural loopholes. Members discussed clarifying exemptions, ensuring students who receive meals are not inadvertently disadvantaged, and coordinating communications to families ahead of the policy effective date.
Next steps: administrators will present a draft policy for review at an upcoming meeting; the board plans to publish any final policy and public-facing guidance well before the October deadline.
