School board votes not to amend cell phone policy

Following a lengthy discussion, the Lyon County School District Board of Trustees voted at its Nov. 18 meeting not to change its existing cell phone policy.

Board President Tom Hendrix had proposed an amended policy that would have prohibited personal internet-enabled devices such as cell phones and tablets from being used on school grounds during the school day except in cases outlined in the policy such as when permitted by teaches in support of curriculum learning objectives, in case of emergency or as written in a student’s Individual Education Plan.

The district’s current policy prohibits the use of cell phones during instructional time, which is defined as from the beginning of school until the final bell in kindergarten through eighth grade and during class periods in high school. The proposed change would have expanded that definition of instructional time to the beginning of the day until the end in high school.

However, during a discussion at the board’s September meeting, Fernley High School principal Ryan Cross argued against restricting the use of phones during the school day in high school. He said some classes require the use of cell phone apps, and he argued that high school students should be afforded more responsibility than younger students.

Trustee James Whisler said he initially supported the more restrictive policy until he began hearing public comment from students, teachers and parents opposed to changing the policy.

“I don’t see why we need to change a policy that hasn’t even been around for a full year,” Whisler said. “Don’t fix what isn’t broke, and this isn’t broke.”

At that September meeting, the Board took no action but asked for the item to be placed on the agenda for the Oct. 28 board meeting. However, the item wasn’t on the agenda for that meeting and the Trustees asked for an explanation at the November meeting for why it wasn’t included in October.

During last week’s meeting, Hendrix said because the board had a lengthy agenda in October, he and Superintendent Tim Logan decided to hold it until November. Attorney Don Lattin told the board that district policy allows the board president and superintendent to develop the agenda, and it is their prerogative to determine how long an agenda will be and move items. He said this would not create an Open Meeting Law violation, because that occurs when the board discusses something that is not on the agenda. In this case, there was no discussion of the item at the October meeting, except for the request for an explanation of why it was not on the agenda.