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Board debates 'bell-to-bell' cell-phone policy, enforcement and exceptions
Summary
Board members questioned draft language for a bell-to-bell student-device policy, weighing enforcement feasibility, study-hall and lunch exceptions, and whether cellularly connected devices such as smartwatches should be included; no policy vote was taken.
Board members spent an extended portion of the April 14 workshop debating a proposed cell-phone policy that would limit student access to cellular devices during instructional time.
Mrs. Wilson introduced the draft language that would restrict phone use during independent work, free time and class unless the teacher explicitly directed device use for instruction. Several board members urged a strict bell-to-bell approach — banning phones from arrival to dismissal except for designated exceptions — and suggested administrative enforcement systems such as a principal-held phone ‘ticket’ or classroom phone bins. Others raised practical concerns about enforcement in hallways during class transitions and the availability of lockers for device storage at the high school level.
The board also discussed special-case exceptions (for military families needing scheduled contact), whether smartwatches and other cellularly connected devices should be included, and how study halls and flex periods should be treated. No formal vote was taken; Mrs. Wilson said language will be refined and administrators will gather additional input and research from districts with bell-to-bell policies.
Board members emphasized consistent enforcement and suggested administrative procedures that would relieve classroom teachers from sole responsibility for device discipline.
