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Berkeley SD 87 board weighs local cellphone policy as state bill stalls
Summary
Board members and administrators said parents at a recent advisory committee largely support limiting student phone use; district leaders plan revised language and will return recommendations to the board June 22 while monitoring Senate Bill 2427 at the state level.
Board members on May 21 described growing concern over student cellphone use and its effect on learning and discipline, and said the district will draft clearer local language ahead of a likely state action.
At a parent-teacher advisory committee meeting April 30, parents voiced strong support for minimizing cellphone disruptions, a board member said. The board discussed whether to wait for state guidance (Senate Bill 2427 is pending at the state level) or adopt a local policy in advance.
Superintendent (name per transcript) described enforcement challenges and local experiments: at one middle school, students keep phones inside Chromebook cases during class periods, while other schools allow smart watches but require they remain out of sight. “Everyone agrees that the cell phone has become disruptive,” the superintendent said, adding that parents’ preferences and emergency-access concerns complicate a uniform rule.
Board members and administrators said they plan further review and will present revised recommended language at the June 22 board meeting. One administrator noted Facebook/group message conflicts that begin outside school and spill into on-campus disagreements, increasing staff and police involvement.
The discussion did not produce a formal vote. Board members emphasized the need to get the policy wording right and work with principals and parents so that any new procedures are implementable at the school level.
