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Superintendent: RSU 5 preparing school-level plans after state phone ban, $4,100 one-time aid
Summary
Superintendent Gray told the RSU 5 board the district's phone-free school-day policy aligns with a recent state law and that the district learned in late May it will receive about $4,100 in one-time state funds to support implementation; schools are drafting procedures to be communicated before school ends.
Superintendent Gray updated the RSU 5 board June 3 on implementation of the district's phone-free school-day policy following a recent state law.
"The state passed a law banning cell phones," Gray said, adding that the state has also appropriated a modest one-time amount to help districts implement a bell-to-bell ban. He reported that the district recently learned the allocation is about $4,100 and that principals are finalizing building-level procedures that will be communicated to families before the school year ends.
Gray reminded the board that when the policy was adopted earlier this year the intention was to start with "off and away" expectations rather than mandatory districtwide storage systems, and that administrators would return with consistent procedures that respect student voice while limiting punitive practices.
Board members pressed for clarity on uniformity across schools, whether storage solutions (Yondr bags, lockers) would be used, how funds could be spent and whether the district would provide an educational component about phone use. Gray said schools are close to completing plans; some high-school teams are considering storage where appropriate, and the district will consider spending state funds on devices or training depending on needs and costs.
The superintendent cautioned that the state funds are one-time and not sufficient to purchase storage for every classroom; administrators and principals will prioritize needs and communicate plans to families and staff before summer break.
