Clover board holds first reading on state Proviso that would ban student phones during the school day

The Clover School District Board of Trustees on Thursday held a first reading of state Proviso 1.13, which requires districts that receive state classroom aid to adopt a policy "that prohibits access to personal electronic communication devices by students during the school day." Mr Ruth, speaking for district staff, read the Proviso aloud and reviewed proposed revisions to district policy.

The board was told the State Board of Education plans to issue a model policy in September or October, with full effect by January 2025. "For purposes of this provision a personal electronic communication device is considered to be a device not authorized for classroom use by a student utilized to access the internet, Wi-Fi or cellular telephone signals," Mr Ruth said as he quoted the Proviso and explained that the language uses "school day" rather than "instructional time."

District staff described the changes they recommended, including a clarified definition of prohibited devices and removal of a line that would have allowed confiscation of a device for the remainder of the school year. Mr Ruth said the district retained existing consequences for phone misuse but removed the year-long confiscation provision "because that is probably not something that we want to do." He added staff will align any local policy with the state model when it is finalized.

Trustees and staff discussed practical enforcement questions. Board members raised scenarios involving students who rely on phones for medical monitoring and how parents would contact students in emergencies. Mr Ruth and other staff noted that emergency contact can be made through school office phones and that students have school-issued email and district devices in some grades. "Individual health plans will help with some of those concerns," Mr Ruth said.

The board debated whether to start the school year strictly (bell-to-bell ban) or allow limited use such as during lunch and then tighten rules when the state model policy is available. Several trustees urged clear communications to parents, arguing that consistent messaging would reduce classroom enforcement burdens. Staff said they would present two versions of the proposed policy for consideration and scheduled a special called meeting on the day of convocation to complete the required second reading.

The first reading does not yet change local policy. Board members were given three days to provide feedback on the two proposed versions; staff said the district will adopt whatever the State Board of Education requires when the model policy is issued.