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Board hears plan to restrict student cell phones; administration to align policy language and rollout
Summary
Administration presented a districtwide phone policy for fall: K–4 students prohibited from carrying cell phones at school; 5th grade and up must have phones off and stored upon entering the building; medical exemptions and building‑specific storage solutions will be accommodated. The board requested a policy review at the upcoming work session.
Administration presented a revised K–12 personal communication device policy and described an expected rollout this summer for implementation in the fall. The proposed approach makes the following changes beginning this school year: kindergarten through 4th grade students will not have cell phones at school; from 5th grade upward, phones must be turned off and put away once students "cross the threshold" into the building; medical exemptions will be handled with administrators and 504 plans.
Superintendent Shaw said the district will provide an implementation window with communications to staff and families and "a lot of grace" at the start of the school year. He added that staff will be asked to follow similar expectations. On specifics, administration explained each building will adopt storage solutions suitable to its layout (lockers, lockable boxes, or classroom storage) and bus drivers will be part of the early reminder and enforcement process. Board members raised practical questions about teacher burden, bus rules and camera access; administrators said cameras exist in common areas and that building administrators will handle escalation of violations. Members asked that policy language (policy 5136 and handbook language) be aligned and brought back for a final review at a work session before a board vote.
