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Platteville board hears concerns over proposed backpack, cellphone rules; staff outlines accommodations
Summary
At the June 10 Platteville School District meeting, a public commenter and teachers pressed the board to rethink proposed handbook language that would require backpacks in lockers and restrict cell phone access, citing access to feminine hygiene products, IEP needs and emergency communication. Staff described mitigation plans including restroom supply baskets, flexi-pass locker access, student outreach and district crisis protocols.
An unnamed public commenter urged the Platteville School District board on June 10 to reconsider proposed student handbook changes that would require backpacks be kept in lockers and restrict access to personal electronic devices during the school day.
The commenter told the board the backpack restriction could “discriminate against a large portion of our population” who need to carry additional items such as feminine hygiene products and asked where students would keep those supplies if backpacks are banned. The speaker also said that if phones were locked away in lockers, students might be unable to contact parents or emergency services during crises, citing past local lockdowns and the possibility of cell-tower congestion.
District staff and board members spent extended time answering logistics questions. A staff presenter said the district supplies restroom baskets that are refilled weekly by an eighth-grade volunteer committee and school counselors to ensure products are available for students who need them. Staff also noted classroom strategies — keeping frequently used workbooks in classrooms and providing cubbies or secure storage in special education rooms — and emphasized that students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) or medical needs would retain access to medically necessary items.
On locker access, staff described a “flexi-pass” digital system at the high school (and a similar system at the middle school) that allows discreet, teacher-approved trips to lockers during passing times. High-school passing time is four minutes; middle-school timing varies. Staff said the district will monitor whether four minutes is adequate and adjust schedules during the first weeks of school as students build routines.
Regarding phones and emergencies, the district said its crisis communications plan assigns parent notification to district staff rather than to students, and that students who need help are instructed to go to the office where adults will facilitate contact with guardians. The district also noted school safety officials have warned that cell service can be unreliable during major incidents, which can limit the effectiveness of personal phones in some emergencies.
Staff said limited student feedback was collected through voluntary panels and informal discussions during school pride time; neighboring districts have adopted similar rules, and some states have enacted stricter phone-related policies. Board members and staff said they plan to refine handbook language — including visuals to clarify what counts as a pencil bag versus a backpack — and to continue gathering feedback from students, families and staff before final adoption.
The discussion did not produce a final vote on handbook language; the board continued with other business and later moved to closed session for the superintendent evaluation.
The board’s next steps include further review of the proposed policy language, clarifying accommodations for IEPs and medical needs, and improving communications with families about how emergencies will be handled if device or backpack restrictions are implemented.
