Travis Unified to convene technology steering group after lengthy cell‑phone policy debate

The Travis Unified School District board held an extended non-action discussion on cell-phone policies and directed the superintendent to convene a representative technology informational steering group to develop recommendations and return to the board in January.

Superintendent Tiffany Benson framed the issue around three options: keep the current policy, refine enforcement under existing policy, or replace it with a new ban or revised policy. Benson described the district’s current rules as treating cell phones as instructional tools used at teacher discretion; phones are allowed during free time and teachers may permit instructional use during class.

Trustees, teachers and community members described classroom disruption and inconsistent enforcement. One trustee cited direct teacher feedback that phones and earbuds have caused classes to fall behind and said enforcement had lapsed since the pandemic. A trustee who said they worked as a classroom teacher urged consistent, fair enforcement rather than wholesale removal of existing rules. Another trustee and speakers referenced stricter campus practices elsewhere—teachers at one school reportedly used labeled envelopes to collect phones on entry and later saw social interaction improve.

Technical and legal questions were raised: a trustee asked whether district IT could geofence applications or work with providers to restrict social‑media access on campus, and staff said the district can limit access on its network but cannot fully control students' off‑network use and would investigate options.

The board agreed on two immediate directions: continue enforcing current policy this semester and form a stakeholder steering group representing teachers, classified staff, technical experts, parents and community members to study options and return recommendations at the January board meeting. The superintendent said implementation timelines would be shaped by the committee’s work and by any forthcoming state action; trustees noted a recent state-level press release (state superintendent Tony Thurmond called for restrictions) and possible state legislation on phone restrictions.

What happens next: the district will assemble the steering group, work with staff and practitioners, and present committee recommendations to the board in January; current policies remain in force and district staff will focus on consistent messaging and enforcement.