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Board directs staff to draft cell‑phone accommodation policy after state law bans in‑school use
Summary
After a state law banned student use of phones during school hours and required a parent accommodation process, board members instructed staff to present draft policy language to the policy committee and aimed for an April first read and fall implementation.
Board members and staff discussed the practical implications of a recently passed state law that bans student use of cell phones and certain wearables during school hours and requires districts to create a policy allowing parents to request brief accommodation times in designated non‑instructional areas.
Student Services Director Heather Castano explained the law’s language and recommended school‑level input on how "brief" accommodations would be administered. Board members debated a district‑wide template (for example, 'lunch period' or 'passing time') versus school‑level timing. Trustee Scott (as addressed in the meeting) argued for a district template to avoid inconsistent implementation; others advocated level‑specific guidance (elementary vs. high school).
The board asked staff to draft policy language with suggested times and procedures, gather administrator input and bring a draft to the policy committee with an April target to prepare for fall rollout. The board noted the policy must keep accommodations distinct from 504/IEP protections and will likely generate public comment during committee review.
Next step: staff to submit a policy draft to the policy committee for initial review by the April meeting and to gather administrator input and model policies from other districts.
