Board adopts temperature‑guideline policy; cell‑phone policy returns for more review

The MSAD 60 Board of Directors approved Policy EBBD (temperature guidelines for schools) and continued debate on Policy JICJ (cell phones and electronic devices) during its June 4 meeting.

Policy EBBD, presented for a second reading by the policy committee and modeled on recommended district policies, clarifies indoor temperature thresholds and related administrative guidance. A motion to approve EBBD was moved, seconded and passed by the board.

During the second reading of JICJ, board members and staff discussed the statutory requirement to adopt a policy by Aug. 1, implementation details for different grade bands, exceptions for wearable devices, procedures for increased office traffic and guidance for families, and the policy’s search provisions. Several members expressed concern about language that would allow school staff to search students’ phones or electronic devices without appropriate law‑enforcement involvement; others noted possible exceptions when there is reasonable suspicion of crimes such as inappropriate photo sharing from locker rooms or bathrooms. Members asked legal counsel (referenced in the discussion) to clarify the parameters for device searches and suggested tying operational details to school‑specific procedures rather than embedding them tightly in the policy text.

The board did not adopt JICJ on June 4; the policy will be returned to the policy committee for language clarifications and brought back for further consideration.