Oakland SD 1 to draft bell‑to‑bell student cell‑phone policy tied to state executive order

Oakland SD 1 leaders discussed a proposed student personal electronic device policy designed to comply with a state executive order and forthcoming OSBA rulemaking.

The superintendent said the district plans to adopt a possession‑based policy that would require students to keep devices in lockers or district‑provided storage during instructional hours. "So personal electronics [are] prohibited from the start of regular instruction hours to the end of regular instruction hours, except as provided below," the superintendent said while walking trustees through bracketed options in a draft policy.

Officials outlined limited exemptions: medical‑provider orders (for example, diabetes monitoring), Individualized Education Program (IEP) accommodations and case‑by‑case written administrative exemptions processed by the principal and, if appealed, by the superintendent. The superintendent said the district will respond to exemption requests within the timeframes set in the form: a principal decision followed by an appeal to the superintendent; that superintendent decision is final.

The draft also describes possible storage approaches — lockers, backpacks or district pouches — and tradeoffs for cost and logistics. The superintendent cautioned that pouches are expensive and require inventory and circulation management.

Board members discussed disciplinary options and enforcement. The superintendent described a tiered discipline matrix in the draft: first offense — device held in the office and returned at the end of the day; second offense — device retained overnight and parent pickup required; third/fourth offenses escalate to Friday school or in‑school suspension in severe cases. The superintendent emphasized that refusal to surrender a device is a separate behavioral issue that can carry stronger consequences.

On timing, district staff said they plan to run the policy as practice from day one of school, include it in handbooks for all three buildings and present a revised policy for a second reading in September; formal adoption may wait until OSBA completes rule‑making and provides clean guidance in October. "It's an executive order. We don't have a choice," the superintendent said, adding that the district will explain the rationale to families and staff.

The board asked for clarifications about sports trips, staff expectations and appeals timelines; the superintendent said the district will refine bracketed language and bring a revised policy in the September packet.