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Board leans toward stricter cell-phone policy in first reading to reflect new state law
Summary
Staff recommended a revision to align district policy with AB 962; trustees expressed preference for Option 2 (ban smartphone use on campus during school hours with statutory exceptions) and asked staff to return with final policy language for a vote.
As part of a multi-item policy review on May 1, district staff presented two options to revise the district—9s mobile communication-device policy to comply with California Assembly Bill 962.
Arthel Lehi reviewed current practice and the two proposed policy options: Option 1 would update device language while allowing smartphones during noninstructional times (with four statutory exceptions); Option 2 would prohibit smartphone use during school hours except for statutorily required exceptions (emergencies, teacher/administrator permission, medical needs, or IEP requirements). Staff recommended Option 2 to align policy with common practice and reduce gray areas for administrators.
"Option 2 more closely reflects what the current practice is on campus," Lehi said, adding that the option "removes gray areas for students for noninstructional time and decreases the amount of time administrators and teachers have to manage appropriate smartphone use on campus." Trustees discussed piloting Yondr pouch storage at certain sites and gave preliminary support for Option 2; the item was a first reading and will return for a vote at a later meeting.
