Board considers bell-to-bell limits on students’ personal devices

What happened

At its August 11 meeting, the Board placed Policy 5516 on first reading. The proposal would prohibit students from using personal internet-enabled devices from the opening bell through dismissal, including during lunch and passing periods.

Why it matters to families

If adopted, the policy would change students’ daily routines across the district. Devices would have to remain off and could be placed in designated storage, while families would generally contact students through the school office.

The evidence

The August 11 agenda identifies Policy 5516 as a first-reading item. The directly linked draft covers smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and smart glasses and provides exceptions for IEPs, 504 plans, health plans, translation, caregiving responsibilities, emergencies, and other authorized circumstances. No approved August 11 minutes were available, so this alert describes a proposal rather than an adopted policy.

The source