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Student device limits advance to first reading as board debates enforcement and scope
Summary
The Redondo Beach Unified board received a first reading of a draft mobile communications policy that would require TK–8 devices off and stored, allow limited 9–12 use during non‑instructional periods, ban unauthorized recording, and preserve legal protections for searches; trustees and students emphasized consistent enforcement and clearer language.
The Redondo Beach Unified School District Board of Education reviewed a first reading of a proposed mobile communications policy on May 12, 2026 that would require students in TK–8 to keep connected devices powered off and stored during the school day and set a narrower, three‑part approach for grades 9–12.
The Smart Device Task Force presentation, led by Paris Middle School Principal Kathleen Shaw and assistant principal Joelyn Ichana Ramen, said the policy implements AB 3216 requirements and covers any device capable of Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth or cellular connections. The draft prohibits unauthorized recording and impersonation, forbids recordings in private spaces such as restrooms and locker rooms, and says law enforcement generally must obtain a warrant before searching a device except in narrow emergency circumstances.
Student participants described the grade‑band differences in practical terms: TK–8 devices would be turned off and stored from campus entry until departure. High‑school students would have more flexibility during noninstructional times (passing periods, lunch and snack) and teachers would retain the ability to approve device use when it directly supports learning.
Student board member Key Gold said the policy’s value will come from consistent enforcement: “Some teachers use phone charts and collect phones reliably; others do not. Once adopted, it should be implemented the same way in every classroom,” Key Gold said during board comment.
Trustees probed the draft’s language for 9–12 students, asking whether the high‑school paragraph should more clearly state permitted times and the consequences for off‑campus device misuse that affects the school environment. The district legal and administrative staff replied that existing education code allows discipline for off‑campus conduct that materially affects school safety or a student’s wellbeing, and said the board policy aims to make that authority transparent to families.
The board did not vote on the policy; members asked staff to revise the draft for clarity on permitted use windows for high‑school students and to return the policy for action at a future meeting. The policy was presented as a first reading and will be brought back for adoption following the requested edits.
What’s next: The board will receive a revised draft after staff incorporate feedback on the 9–12 language and the off‑campus discipline explanation. If adopted, the policy would be communicated to families and implemented with training and consistent classroom procedures to support fidelity.
