Mancos School District holds first reading of cell‑phone policy, restricts phones except at high‑school lunch

At its June 15 meeting the Mancos School District Re-6 board took a first reading on a revised student cell-phone policy that, as described during the meeting, would bar student cell phones in school except during high‑school lunch.

District leaders and the District Accountability Committee said the draft policy is intended to connect to the student handbook and to focus on consistent implementation rather than only changing policy language. The transcript summarizes the principal operational change as: high‑school students would not have phones during instructional times and would only be allowed to have them on their person at lunch; middle and elementary operational practices and where phones are stored remain subject to more detailed implementation planning.

Nut graf: Board members emphasized that the policy’s success depends on consistent classroom-level enforcement, staff training, clear communication with families, and practical procedures for contacting students during the day. The item was treated as a first reading and the board invited further feedback from staff, students and parents before final adoption.

During discussion, a board member noted that passing time is considered instructional time and therefore complicates any carve-outs for transitional periods. District leaders also flagged related topics — staff device use, AI and laptop usage — for separate operational review. The board indicated the policy will continue through staff review and public comment; no final adoption vote on a full policy revision was recorded beyond the first-reading action and inclusion in consent items that were later approved.

Board members encouraged community feedback through the district’s posted channels; staff said they will return with details on enforcement procedures and training plans before a final policy vote.