Parents, teachers and trustees debate cell‑phone rules; board asks staff for stakeholder process and return in 60 days

District staff summarized results of surveys of students, parents and staff on cell‑phone use and said responses varied widely: parents cited safety concerns while teachers reported classroom disruption. Board members, staff and multiple public commenters discussed enforcement, equity across sites and whether separate policies should apply to elementary vs. secondary grades.

Parents and staff at the meeting urged stricter enforcement or an outright ban during instructional time. One public commenter said banning phones raised test scores in other districts; another recounted classroom disruptions and safety concerns while also urging targeted resourcing for enforcement (phone bins, signage, staff support).

District staff said the current policy (Board Policy 5131) allows teachers discretionary use during instructional time and that enforcement varies across sites; staff recommended a representative stakeholder group (parents, staff, students) be convened to create a workable, consistent approach. The board directed staff to form that group and return with reportable options and progress in 60 days, with a fuller discussion anticipated in March.

Board members discussed tradeoffs between teacher discretion and uniform enforcement, the need for education and communication to families, and the operational resourcing needed to make policy changes practical (bins, signage, clear classroom expectations). Several board members said culture change would be required, not just a new rule.

What happens next: Staff will convene a representative stakeholder committee this spring, gather more detailed site-level data, and present options and recommended language/implementation steps to the board in about 60 days.