Granite School District seeks public input on updating device acceptable-use policy

Granite School District officials presented proposed updates to the district’s Acceptable Use of Technology policy at the District Community Council meeting on May 13 at West Lake STEM Jr High. General Counsel Doug Larson said the district previously revised the policy in spring to cover cell-phone usage and now wants to expand guidance to include how Chromebooks are used during classroom instruction. "We updated this policy in the spring to include cell phone usage and want to update it now to include how much Chromebooks are used in the classroom," Larson said.

The update is being developed in the law and policy committee and officials said they want feedback from parents, teachers and SCC members before any administrative rules are finalized. District staff emphasized they prefer broad policy language and plan to put specific expectations into an administrative memo and grade-level best-practice guidance rather than rigid minute-by-minute limits. That approach, officials said, would allow teachers to use Chromebooks during guided instruction, small-group work and independent practice while preserving classroom flexibility.

Why it matters: the changes could shape how teachers use devices and how schools balance technology-enabled differentiated instruction with concerns about screen time and classroom monitoring. District leaders asked SCC members to remind their schools to take the district survey so the policy team can collect stakeholder input before next steps.