Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Board Actions Votes topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Oregon School District board tightens student cellphone rules, approves payments and withdraws from Dane County Schools Consortium
Summary
The Oregon School District Board on March 24 approved amendments to its student cellphone policy that require personal wireless communication devices (PWCDs) to be "off and away" for pre-K–6 all day and off and away during academic time for grades 7–12, adopted other routine items including $1,441,012.65 in payments, and authorized withdrawal from the Dane County Schools Consortium effective July 1, 2025.
The Oregon School District Board on March 24 adopted an amended student cellphone policy and approved several routine financial and administrative actions.
The board approved a package of consent items including minutes, a Treasurer's report, resignations and acceptance of donations, and payments totaling $1,441,012.65. The Consent Calendar passed by a 6-0 roll call vote. The board accepted donor gifts including $150 from Larry D. Mahr for an OMS leaf-raking project, a DEMCO wheeled storage cart valued at $2,000 for the LMC 3D printer, $500 from Fidelity Charitable for the NKE reading program, 30 used binders from Colet Cook, and an OCA Media Scholarship of $750.
On policy, the board retired Policy 441 (Electronic Communication Devices) by a 6-0 vote on a Policy Committee recommendation. The board then considered changes to Policy 771 (Electronic Communications/Cellular Phones). After a series of committee-backed amendments, the board approved language specifying that "For students in grades pre-kindergarten through 6th grade, PWCD must be off and away all day. This means the first bell to the last bell including during lunch, recess and passing times," and that "For students in grades 7-12, PWCD must be off and away during Academic Time. Academic Time means all times the students are scheduled to be in class, including Connections and study hall." Those amendment motions passed on voice/roll-call votes and the board set the policy to begin Sept. 2, 2025.
The final, amended Policy 771 passed on a roll call vote, 4-2 (yes: Dr. Mary Lokuta, Ahna Bizjak, Dr. Caleb Bush and Heather Garrison; no: Leslie Wright and Troy Pankratz).
The board also authorized the Superintendent to withdraw the district from the Dane County Schools Consortium effective July 1, 2025 and to vote affirmatively to dissolve the Consortium if such a vote occurs; that motion passed 6-0. Additionally, the board approved a 4% increase in dental insurance rates for the 2025-26 school year by a 6-0 vote.
Board Vice President Troy Pankratz presided; motions were routinely moved and seconded (the minutes record movers and seconders for each item). The meeting adjourned at 8:01 PM.
Votes at a glance: • Agenda approval: 6-0 (motion to approve posted agenda moved by Leslie Wright, seconded by Heather Garrison). • Consent Calendar (minutes, payments, donations, scholarship, resignations): approved 6-0 (payments $1,441,012.65). • Policy 441 retired: approved 6-0 (moved by Dr. Mary Lokuta). • Policy 771 (Electronic Communications) amended and approved: passed 4-2 (yes: Lokuta, Bizjak, Bush, Garrison; no: Wright, Pankratz). Effective date set Sept. 2, 2025. • Withdrawal from Dane County Schools Consortium: authorized 6-0 (effective July 1, 2025). • Dental insurance rates (2025-26): 4% increase approved 6-0.
What happens next: The amended Policy 771 is scheduled to take effect Sept. 2, 2025; the Superintendent will execute the consortium withdrawal effective July 1, 2025 as authorized.
