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Piedmont task force offers three options to curb student phone use; board leans to phased approach
Summary
A task force presented three options for personal connected-device limits — from classroom-only enforcement to bell-to-bell bans with centralized storage — and the board signaled support for a phased path (start with stricter daytime limits, plan toward full bell-to-bell) while raising implementation and equity concerns.
The Piedmont Board of Education heard a detailed update from the cell-phone task force and discussed three policy options for restricting personal connected devices in schools.
Dr. Yoshihara, who led the task force, outlined the options and said the committee considered law, instruction, social-media effects and campus dynamics. "The law has changed requiring all school districts to design a policy that restricts cell phone use K through 12," he told the board, noting the district must craft a compliant policy ahead of 2026. The task force recommended a range from enhanced enforcement during instructional time to a full bell-to-bell ban with storage solutions, and proposed a phased rollout as an option to bridge implementation hurdles.
Board members pressed for details on enforcement, equity and the effects on open campus lunch and free periods. Dr. Yoshihara described enforcement tools ranging from an educational, restorative approach to progressive consequences; he said some districts use centralized lockers or "phone hotels," while others kept phones out of sight and relied on consistent community messaging. "We want to make sure that we're able to do it with fidelity," he said, stressing the need to pair any restriction with communications and resources for staff.
The board emphasized two priorities: minimizing administrative burden on teachers and protecting students who rely on phones for safety or caregiving reasons. Several trustees indicated a preference for starting with the middle option — banning phones during passing periods, brunch and classes but allowing use at lunch — while charging staff to design a multi-year plan that could move the district toward a stricter model if feasible. The task force did not offer a single recommendation and will return with a more detailed plan informed by the board's feedback.
