Board adopts student mobile‑device policy; exemptions and locker plan set for roll‑out

The Board of Education on Aug. 12 approved revisions to district policies that include new limits on students' use of mobile devices during the school day and provision for a nonvoting student board member. The policy discussion addressed exemptions, locker storage, and enforcement plans before the board voted to adopt the committee's recommended revisions.

Christopher Larabee, committee chair, led the policy discussion and, after committee consideration, the board approved the revisions by voice vote: “On behalf of the policy committee, upon a motion made by committee chair member, Christopher Larabee, recommendations as revisions made, and the motion stated policies to be approved as presented. All in favor? No. Any opposed? Motion carries 7 to 0.”

Superintendent Dr. Perry and other staff outlined the policy's practical effects. The policy aims to restrict student cell‑phone and mobile‑Internet use; exemptions include medical needs, translation needs, and caregiver responsibilities facilitated through school counselors or psychologists. Exempted devices are to be used only for the specific permissible purpose and otherwise stored in a secure area, such as a locker, not carried constantly by the student.

District staff described implementation details: lockers will be assigned to students, locker numbers and combinations posted in Aspen, and schools will run orientation and one‑on‑one locker training for students who have not used lockers recently. For students with approved exemptions, the district intends to flag the student record in Aspen so staff and monitors can identify permission without public disclosure.

Enforcement and monitoring: staff said the district will avoid punitive overreach, treating cellphone misuse as an infraction that may escalate only if accompanied by insubordination or other behavioral concerns. The district will track incidents in Aspen and provide a report roughly five weeks after rollout, with a broader check at the end of the first quarter. The board asked staff to provide a monitoring update around Oct. 1 and to include student feedback from the new nonvoting student member.

Why it matters: New state rules and district policy changes alter how schools will manage student access to phones and connected devices during the day, affecting routines in classrooms, cafeterias and passing periods and requiring staff training and communication with families.