Phones must be off and put away during the school day

What happened

The new middle/high school handbook says phones, smartwatches and other personal devices must be off and kept in a locker or backpack from 8:03 a.m. to 2:57 p.m., following state law. High schoolers may check phones at their lockers between classes and at lunch, but middle schoolers may not. A third offense brings discipline.

Why it matters to families

This changes when students can reach their phones every day. Parents who need to reach a child must go through the main office or school email.

The evidence

The board-approved 2026-27 Student-Parent Handbook, 'Possession of Electronics' section, sets the 8:03-2:57 storage rule, the IEP/504 exception, and the three-step confiscation steps. The board approved the handbook on August 17, 2026 after discussing the cell phone policy.

The source