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Board holds first reading of new statewide cell-phone ban for instructional hours
Summary
Administration presented a first reading of a new district policy (JEC) responding to a governor's executive order that prohibits student personal electronic device use during instructional hours; the board discussed exemptions, bus rules and administrative regulations for exceptions.
Administration presented a first reading of policy JEC, a district response to a recent governor executive order that prohibits students' use of personal electronic devices during the instructional day except where ARs provide exemptions. The draft policy defines "instructional hours" as beginning at the first bell and ending at the last bell, includes a progressive-discipline approach and creates an AR process to request exemptions for documented needs.
The policy text includes options such as out-of-sight/out-of-sound expectations, district-provided pouches or lockers and specific language for field trips and athletic events (which the administration proposes to treat as outside instructional hours when students are checked out for events). Administration recommended adding a sentence clarifying the district will provide devices when a device is required for curriculum: "In academic activities in which a personal electronic device is required as part of the curriculum, a district owned device will be provided."
Board members debated practical issues, including whether bus drivers should be expected to enforce the rule (administration said that would be unrealistic) and how to handle transitional moments at the end of the school day. The policy cites a state law in the draft (noted in the packet as "ORS 3 3 6 8 4 0" in the text presented) and includes an administrative regulation for documented exemptions (IEP/504 needs, health monitoring devices). The board asked staff to add district-device language on the first page and bring the policy back for a second reading with recommended wording changes.
