Board approves personal communication device policy after student appeals; administration given April implementation runway

Two students urged the Whitnall School District board on Jan. 26 to preserve classroom access to personal laptops and other higher‑power devices, and trustees voted to adopt a new personal communication devices policy while directing administrators to develop consistent implementation procedures by April 1, 2026.

Vince Richtor, who identified himself and his address during public comment, told the board the draft policy “basically calls for a complete abolition of real computers” and said Chromebooks in the district cannot run course software such as CAD and advanced programming tools. “Personal computers have been significantly more helpful than hurtful,” he said, arguing the policy would prevent students from completing internship and early‑college work.

Wyatt Puffs, another student commenter, said he is “much more productive as a student using my personal laptop rather than a slow and underpowered Chromebook,” and urged the board to ensure students can use devices that meet course requirements.

Administration framed the decision around state law. Superintendent Brady Ranky said the policy language follows legal guidance, including Act 42, and noted the statute explicitly lists categories of devices. “It specifically says it in Act 42 — cellular telephone, tablet, computer, laptop computer, gaming device,” he said, stressing that the board must adopt policy consistent with state requirements.

Board members and administrators acknowledged student concerns and emphasized the difference between policy language and day‑to‑day procedures. District staff told trustees they are already developing building‑level procedures and exception processes to authorize device use for legitimate educational purposes, and the board approved the policy with an effective date of April 1, 2026 to give the high school time to standardize practices across classrooms.

Trustees described the next steps as administrative: create clear criteria for teacher‑ or IEP‑authorized exceptions, consider options for school‑issued higher‑power laptops to loan to students in specialized coursework, and train staff to apply the policy consistently so teachers do not have widely varying expectations.

The policy vote was taken during the meeting’s action items; the record shows the motion passed but does not include an itemized roll‑call tally in the public minutes. The board moved on to other business and later adjourned into closed session for a superintendent evaluation.

The district said it will return to the board before April 1 with implementation details and procedures that reflect staff and student needs.