Phone ban rules in Acceptable Use Policy get a rewrite; vote set Nov. 16

What happened

Students may not use phones, smartwatches or tablets anywhere at school all day, including lunch and passing time. The board had a first reading Oct. 13, 2026 of a revised Acceptable Use Policy 4526 and Internet Safety Policy 4526.1, with a vote planned Nov. 16. Draft additions include a rule that no tool that handles student personal data can be used until a privacy contract is signed, and a ban on VPNs that get around school filters.

Why it matters to families

The device rule has been in place since September 2025 and affects every student's day. Last year 639 students in grades 6-12 broke it (972 incidents); at the high school that was about 1 in 5 students (553 of 2,531).

The evidence

The Oct. 13, 2026 policy packet contains the draft revised policy (proposed, not adopted). The district's 2025-26 enforcement report gives the infraction counts and says incidents fell during the year. The draft does not mention artificial intelligence.

The source