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Board approves several administrative policies, schedules cell-phone policy for final action in August
Summary
The board approved a package of policy and procedure changes (board handbook, B3 tax-increment financing, G5 district reconfiguration, I20 learner-validated program, and P15 state-sponsored paid professional hours) and continued deliberation on a cell-phone policy that would ban devices in elementary and middle schools with ongoing evaluation for high schools.
At its July 14 meeting the Salt Lake City School District board moved several policies from the discussion to action and approved them by roll-call vote. Items approved included a revised board handbook, B3 (tax-increment financing administrative procedures), G5 (reconfiguration and long-term school closure procedures), I20 (learner-validated program to comply with HB 426) and P15 (state-sponsored paid professional hours for educators, with added clarifying language about maximum hours and qualifying uses).
Cell-phone policy: Kendall (S9) summarized a proposed cell-phone policy shaped by recent state bills (Senate Bill 44 and SB 69) and local stakeholder surveys. The subcommittee recommended a ban on cell phones during the school day for elementary and middle schools while leaving non-instructional high-school use permitted; it also recommended a year-long study to revisit high-school rules. Board members discussed enforcement, support for principals, and the need to limit district-required digital touchpoints that create student screen time.
Why it matters: Several of the newly approved policies implement state legislative mandates or create procedural clarity (e.g., I20 arises from HB 426); P15 clarifies district communication and recordkeeping expectations for state-mandated paid professional hours. Board members asked for accurate, posted language for the proposed B4 community-advisory-council policy before moving it to action.
Next steps: Approved policies will be implemented through administrative procedures; staff will return to the board with redlined B4 language if the board wishes to adopt a community advisory council at a subsequent meeting. The cell-phone policy will be eligible for final action in August if the board decides to adopt it then.
