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Board weighs cellphone and communications approach during lockdowns
Summary
Board members debated limiting outgoing phone calls during lockdowns and considered drills that allow supervised, small-batch outbound texting; law enforcement guidance favors restricting calls to reduce confusion and rumors.
District safety staff and board members discussed how student access to phones should be managed during an emergency and what the district should practice in drills.
District Safety Coordinator Rebecca Bjornson explained that many students would not have phones during an emergency and described classroom practices such as pockets at Ashland High School where phones are stored. She said the district is exploring drills that allow some students to send texts in controlled, small batches so families receive limited, accurate information.
Bjornson also relayed local law enforcement advice on lock‑down communications: "Our best practice approach would be no calls, but we are trying to drill that students can send outbound text messages in small batches." Directors expressed interest in observing drills and asked staff to bring sample procedures and educational materials for different grade levels.
The board did not adopt a final policy at the special session; staff will refine options for board review and link procedures to the broader emergency communications policy.
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