The Santa Fe school board on Thursday gave initial approval to a new cellphone and mobile device policy that would require devices be turned off and out of sight during class time, with limited exceptions.
Amended Policy 603 would update existing but largely unenforced school rules pertaining to “wireless communication devices,” such as cellphones, smart watches, music and media players, tablets, laptops and gaming devices.
A second reading of the proposed policy, expected to take place at the board’s meeting Aug. 15, will be required prior to its official adoption.
Lucas Robbins, one of the school board’s student board members and a soon-to-be senior at Mandela International Magnet School, called the policy, which was developed with student input, “very fair.”
“As we grow up and become adults, cellphone management and distraction management and that stuff [are] all things we’ll have to learn,” he said.
Consistent with existing rules, the proposed policy splits device expectations into two categories: elementary school versus middle and high school.
It would require students in elementary school to keep their phones off and out of sight from bell to bell, or the start of the day to the end of the day.
Middle and high schoolers, meanwhile, must keep devices turned off and away during class periods.
Students who violate the policy would be subject to an existing matrix of consequences, depending on their behavior on their device.
Use of devices will be allowed to fulfill the needs of students with disabilities and for educational purposes with a teacher’s supervision and permission.
The proposed new policy also maintains an existing clause prohibiting the use of devices during emergencies or emergency drills unless otherwise instructed.
Enforcement, while essential to ensure the proposed policy is meaningful, may pose a challenge for school staff trying to focus on teaching, board members agreed during Thursday’s meeting.
“I really don’t want this to be burdensome for teachers. ... Education can’t happen if teachers are talking about cellphones for half the class period,” said board member Sarah Boses.
Superintendent Hilario “Larry” Chavez said the district has already started conversations with school principals on how to inform students of the new policy and use it effectively without placing additional burdens on classroom teachers.
Board Vice President Kate Noble argued the policy should continue to evolve, subject to ongoing discussion and possible revision as technology and families’ needs change.
In particular, the policy’s emergencies clause — which she called “a little scary” — could be a good place for more conversation.
“We can’t compromise safety and key functions of families by taking away cellphones, and we hope that that dialogue can happen robustly between students and school staff,” Noble said.
