Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bexley board holds first read of new student device policy required by state law
Summary
The policy committee presented a first reading of a district device/cell-phone policy with grade-band rules (K'15 no devices; grades 6'8 limited use; high school limited between classes), noting it responds to state legislation and will return for later votes.
The board heard a first reading of a revised personal-device and cell-phone policy that district staff and the policy committee developed to comply with state requirements.
A policy committee representative summarized key points: the policy breaks student use into three grade bands. For kindergarten through fifth grade, personal devices (defined broadly to include phones, smartwatches, gaming devices, tablets and other Wi-Fi-capable items) are not permitted. For grades six through eight, devices are restricted to lunch, recess and approved field trips and otherwise must be stored. High-school students would be allowed device use between classes and during lunch but must store devices when not permitted.
The presenter said the policy is a first read, noted edits made to an OSBA-recommended policy to fit local practice, and asked stakeholders to review it: staff had met with middle- and high-school students to gather feedback. The presenter also flagged pending state legislation (referred to in the meeting as House Bill 158) that would more broadly ban cell-phone use during the day and urged the community to watch for legislative changes.
Why it matters: The policy would change day-to-day device management, clarify prohibited items, and add enforcement steps for noncompliance; it also anticipates forthcoming state actions.
Next steps: The policy will return for additional review and subsequent readings before the board votes.
