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Laurel board approves LHS student handbook after lengthy debate over cell-phone rules
Summary
After more than two hours of public comment and trustee debate, the Laurel Public School District board approved the 2026–27 LHS student handbook with clarified language banning visible phones in class and adding narrow, temporary instructional exceptions; administration must return a final version in August.
The Laurel Public School District Board voted to approve the 2026–27 Laurel High School student handbook on a motion amended after extensive discussion about electronic device rules.
The board’s final language states that cell phones, headphones, earbuds and smart wearables “should never be seen in class or in the hallway,” allows principals to temporarily permit teacher-supervised phone use for specific instructional activities, and preserves limited use of devices during the lunch period in the lunchroom. Trustees also directed administration to return a cleaned, final copy to the August meeting as an information item.
Why it mattered: Trustees and members of the public spent the bulk of a meeting arguing over how to balance classroom control, student privacy and practical enforcement. Public commenters and staff described scenarios where parents, medical accommodations or inconsistent teacher enforcement could complicate strict confiscation rules.
Key points and exchanges: Public commenter Elizabeth Gil urged the board to stand firm for community principles and student examples; she told trustees she was representing herself and the Laurel Care organization. Teacher and parent voices split: some urged firm consequences, including parent pickup and suspension for repeat offenses, while others warned that confiscating personal property could damage relationships and harm students with medical needs or 504 plans.
High school and district administrators described enforcement challenges and emphasized the need for consistent application across classrooms. Elementary-principal Anthony Fes said allowing immediate parent pickup after a second offense has, in his experience, encouraged students to view the penalty as a victory and undermined discipline; he argued holding devices until the end of the day or until a parent pickup could strengthen rules.
Trustee Kayla (first reference during discussion) pressed for clear, enforceable wording, saying administrators and teachers must have explicit backing from the board. Other trustees asked administration to clarify the meaning of “seen” (visible versus merely pocketed) and to ensure exceptions for students covered by IEPs or 504 plans.
The board approved the handbook as amended; the motion carried by voice vote. Trustees instructed the administration to consolidate the edits and present a final, formatted handbook at the August meeting for review.
What happens next: Administration will return the finalized handbook as an information item to the first board meeting in August; the board asked for follow-up data on infractions and enforcement reports during the year.
