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Elkhorn Area School District reviews device and messaging policies; board will await state guidance
Summary
Board members discussed adopting 'option B' for the student device policy, clarified coach/parent messaging should use group apps, and agreed to revisit language after pending state statutory changes; no formal vote was recorded.
Staff member (S1) told the Elkhorn Area School District board that the meeting would consider deleting language and adopting option B for the student device policy, noting the draft permits teacher- or administrator-approved exceptions for activities such as travel to games. The staff member said a bill on the governor’s desk could affect how the district frames in-school restrictions and that the district should "flag this in a review after the updates" when that statute is finalized.
Board members emphasized practical exceptions: S1 said coaches can allow phones on a bus to a game, and the nurse’s office should have a school phone available for health-related contact rather than relying solely on student devices. On messaging tools, members favored routing communications through approved group platforms used by teams and clubs rather than private direct messages. "Any messaging should be in group messaging," S1 said, citing Band, TeamSnap and similar apps that teams already use.
The board discussed staff-to-student contact platforms such as WhatsApp and private direct messages and agreed that the district needs a clearer staff-student communication policy. S5 noted that staff-to-student communication is covered elsewhere and suggested Neola language be made more specific to reflect concerns raised in the meeting.
No motions or votes were recorded on the device or messaging items. Members asked staff to monitor the pending state legislation and return with recommended edits to align district policy with any statutory changes.
