East Union revises policies, eyes student phones

AFTON - An array of revisions to policies were implemented at East Union after being recommended by the Iowa Association of School Boards. A first reading of the majority of these policies were waived by the EU board and implemented during Monday’s regular board meeting.

One policy, which was recommended by IASB but not implemented by the East Union board yet, revolved around students’ use of personal electronic devices.

Policy 503.09, if adopted, would prohibit student use of personal electronic devices during instructional time. This would not apply to district-owned electronic devices such as laptops.

The policy describes a personal electronic device as “any device that is capable of electronically communicating, sending, receiving, storing, recording, reproducing and/or displaying information and data.”

Instructional time is defined by the policy as “the time from the beginning of class bell through the end of class bell, and includes all lunch and recess periods.”

Regulation is defined in 503.09R1, which outlines how students will store their personal electronic devices in their backpacks. If a student is observed using a device, building administration will be notified and require the student to turn in the device for safekeeping. The device will be secured in the building’s front office.

Noted in IASB’s outline of the policy is how the policy and language is optional, and recommends districts to modify the policy to fit the needs of the district. The policy has not been approved by the EU board yet. A second reading of the policy will take place during next month’s board meeting on Friday, Oct. 18.

IASB’s reasoning for creating the policy is to “create a more uniform approach” to how devices have been regulated, citing a historically scattered approach to how classrooms ban cellphones.

Cellphone bans have spread across the country as concerns have risen around post-COVID isolation and decreasing mental health. About 77% of U.S. schools say they prohibit cellphones for non-academic use, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Enforcement of bans typically varies from classroom to classroom.

Other policies were edited. The first, 502.10, updates the use of motor vehicles by students in relation to laws implemented around driving permits for minors.

Another revision, to 603.01, updated the high school basic instruction program by lowering the amount of courses required for fine arts and foreign language. Fine arts was lowered from three units to two, and foreign language was lowered from four units to two.

Policy 700 received minor reclassification of noninstructional services, with the removal of child care and the addition of financial services.

The final revised policy, 710.4, adopted language for meal charge accounts for students, as well as policies to contact parents in regards to negative balances.