Davis School Board adopts new student-device policy after heated debate

The Davis School District Board of Education voted to adopt Policy 5S-105 on first and final reading after more than an hour of discussion about whether the district should move immediately to a bell-to-bell phone ban.

The policy, approved by a motion from Miss Stevens and seconded by Miss Price, preserves a bell-to-bell ban for elementary schools and allows secondary students limited access during passing periods and lunch while keeping exceptions for IEP/504 accommodations and emergencies. The board also affirmed that principals and community councils retain discretion to adopt stricter rules at individual schools.

Miss Hogan, who urged the board to impose a full bell-to-bell ban, said, "I would like to see the bell to bell in all the schools," framing the demand as a step to protect students' well-being. Policy committee members and other trustees objected to a mandatory, districtwide ban because of enforcement challenges and concerns about increasing negative interactions between staff and students over phones.

The policy committee described its decision as a measured approach that balances legislative direction and school-level realities. "Administrators reported that enforcing a strict bell-to-bell ban can turn into daily conflict and would make it harder for teachers and principals to keep the focus on instruction," a committee spokesperson told the board. Superintendent Dan Lynford also cautioned about the practical burdens of full-day enforcement when staffing and daily school operations are considered.

Board members said the vote does not foreclose future action. Several trustees said they hope growing parent support and implementation of educational programming about healthy device use will ease a culture shift toward reduced in-class phone use.

The motion to approve Policy 5S-105 passed by voice vote; board members did not record a roll-call tally in the meeting minutes.