District reviews state-mandated phone policy; trustees ask for site feedback

The Newman-Crows Landing Unified School District board on June 8 received a first reading of proposed board policy 5131.8, which would limit or prohibit student smartphone use on school grounds in accordance with recent state law.

Superintendent Pruitt said the sample policy before trustees comes from the California School Boards Association and offers two options districtwide or keeping the current site-by-site approach; he described the district’s current practice as prohibiting devices at elementary and middle schools while allowing limited use at the high school. “What you guys have before you is a copy from a sample from CSBA,” he said, and asked trustees to provide site-level feedback so staff can prepare a second reading.

The presentation noted the governing board is required to adopt a policy by July 1, 2026 under Education Code 48901.7 as amended by AB 3216 (chapter 500, statutes of 2024). Pruitt asked staff to collect principals’ views on what approach has been most effective at each site and said the draft policy may be revised to reflect district practice.

Trustees did not take action at the special meeting; the superintendent requested feedback from site principals and indicated staff will return with a revised policy for a second reading and possible adoption.

If adopted, the policy would require the district to review and update the policy every five years as mandated by the statute. The board did not yet indicate which of the CSBA options it favors; members asked only for more input from campus leaders before a final decision.

The board will revisit Policy 5131.8 at a subsequent meeting for the required second reading and potential adoption.