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Student advisory urges refined cell-phone guidelines; district reports E‑Rate reimbursement jump
Summary
The student advisory committee reported discussions about levies, cell-phone guidelines, Chromebook issues and summer meals; the superintendent said outreach increased the district's E‑Rate reimbursement from about 60% to 80%, boosting resources for technology infrastructure.
At the Richland School Board meeting, a student representative summarized the student superintendent advisory committee's priorities, which included levy information, cell-phone guidelines, Chromebook problems and graduation criteria.
The student, Mayena, told the board levies fund extracurriculars, art and music programs, athletics, smaller class sizes and other student options. On cell phones, she said students generally said phones can be a distraction but raised classroom exceptions for music classes, photography needs and immediate emergency access to parents.
"Students stated that students are more engaged and focused," Mayena said, and added that juniors and seniors rely on phones for college applications. The advisory plans to invite district technology staff to a future meeting to address Chromebook aging and access issues.
Separately, Dr. Reager reported that the district's outreach to families helped raise the percentage used to calculate E‑Rate reimbursement from roughly 60% to about 80%, a roughly 20 percentage-point increase that will increase technology reimbursement for the district.
Board members discussed which schools currently do not qualify for 100% free lunch and noted five schools remain below that threshold; staff said continued outreach and confidential application methods are priorities to capture eligible families and increase summer-meal access.
The board said it will follow up by inviting technology staff to the next advisory meeting and continuing community outreach on free- and reduced-price meal applications.
