Belgrade board approves tighter classroom cellphone restrictions, allows passing-period use at high school

The Belgrade School Board voted 5-4 to revise policy 36-30 on student possession and use of cell phones, adopting language that restricts instructional use while permitting phones during high-school passing periods and adding procedural language for progressive penalties and teacher-requested instructional exceptions.

The vote capped more than an hour of public testimony and trustee discussion about classroom disruption, equity and enforcement. "Cell phones, in my opinion, promote drama, bullying, inappropriate pictures and cheating," said Roxas Kim, an attendance and front-office secretary, who urged clearer consequences and consistent staff and board support for enforcement. "There will need to be clear consequences laid out for everyone," she said.

Not all public speakers agreed. "Cell phones are a tool for our students and our teachers," said Randy Bradke, a Belgrade High School woodworking teacher, who described routine classroom uses such as carrying project plans and taking photos of student work. Mike Foster, the district IT director and a parent, echoed a middle position: if teachers rely on phones for instruction, the district should ensure equitable device access or provide Chromebooks rather than depending on private phones.

Board members debated practical enforcement issues: whether passing-period allowances would open a "can of worms," how to escalate penalties for repeated unauthorized use, and how substitutes would be expected to manage rules. Several trustees said they want a detailed procedure in the student handbook spelling out first/second/third-step consequences; staff said the handbook committee will draft escalation steps following the board's policy decision.

Under the motion adopted by the board, the policy will: - Remove antiquated references to "pagers" and insert "earbuds." - Permit student cell-phone use during passing periods at the high school but not during instructional time unless a teacher receives prior permission from the principal for a specific instructional purpose. - Direct administrators to develop handbook procedures that define progressive penalties and enforcement responsibilities.

The measure passed on a 5-4 vote. The board did not record individual roll-call votes in the public transcript; chair announced "Motion passes 5-4."

Next steps: staff will return the handbook procedures to the board and the administration for implementation planning; trustees said they expect training and communication for staff, students and parents before fall semester enforcement.