The Deming Public Schools Board voted Feb. 20 to adopt an electronic-communications policy that bars students from using personal electronic devices during instructional time, passing periods and lunch across the district.

Board members debated the policy for more than an hour before voting. The discussion opened with a presentation of survey results by a district staff member who said option A (a stricter policy) had the most support among respondents. Administrators, teachers and parents then described classroom and safety concerns that drove their positions.

District staff emphasized the survey and two draft policy versions were circulated: one that would allow use during passing periods and one that would not. A district administrator who presented the drafts said the survey showed a majority supported restricting phones; the board then heard extended testimony from secondary and elementary principals who described disruptions, social-media driven incidents and differences in enforcement depending on building layout.

Principals for both the high school and middle school urged a uniform district standard to make enforcement easier. One high-school principal said an all-or-nothing rule would be simplest and would align incoming students who had already been conditioned in other schools where restrictions were in place. Elementary principals and a parent speaker said younger children benefit from staff-mediated communication and that offices can relay emergency messages to classrooms.

Board members and administrators discussed operational options for enforcement, including low-cost lock boxes or pouch systems, standardized classroom drop-off stations (similar to practices seen in other districts) and budget paths to purchase equipment. District operations staff said they had already investigated locking pouches and that potential state legislation could reimburse districts for lock-box purchases; the staff member said the bill had passed an initial committee and had a “do pass” recommendation.

After discussion, a board member made a motion to adopt the stricter policy (no phone use during instructional time, passing periods or lunch); another board member seconded. The board approved the motion by roll call vote. The policy will now move to implementation planning; administrators will return to the board with procedural details (for example, how to handle students who leave campus for lunch, and whether clear locked pouches will be used), timelines and budget estimates for any equipment purchases.

The board and staff repeatedly emphasized that emergency communication would remain available through school offices and building procedures; staff said procedures for parents to contact students in urgent situations will be preserved.

The vote followed public comment and extended internal discussion; the policy text and precise implementation steps were not adopted in the open meeting and will be developed by staff for board review.