Davis Joint Unified revises current mobile device policy

Article by Harlow Hamilton

The Davis Joint Unified School District (DJUSD) school board met on April 2 to discuss revising the current mobile device policy for grades TK-12 and consider the concept of an ‘away for the day’ phone policy. 

Currently, the policy is as follows: for grades TK-6, devices must be kept away for the entire school day; for junior high and high school, they are to be put away during instructional time but allowed during lunch, as well as passing periods for high school.

The District Technology Advisory Committee (DTAC) supports the ‘away for the day’ initiative. DTAC expressed concerns regarding how parents would be able to contact their children during emergencies and passing periods, and requested possible phone storage options and clarity regarding the distinction between phones and Chromebooks.

DTAC union representative and English teacher Eileen Guerard supports the ‘away for the day’ phone policy.

“(I want) to make it absolutely clear to the board tonight how much cell phones and Chromebooks are hurting classroom instruction,” Guerard said. 

Guerard hopes the board will take the current policy under advisement and come up with a policy that “has more teeth in it.”

“I have a feeling that everyone would be happier, less anxious and more engaged with their work,” she said.

Lee Maree Sandubal, a parent to a first grader at Cesar Chavez, voiced concerns about screen usage in school.

Sandubal works in the criminal punishment system, and emphasizes that “poor impulse control from a young age can contribute over time at an older age.”

After reviewing the survey, the board’s opinions remained mixed. Trustee Elizabeth Moon is “1000% for ‘away for the day,’” as well as President Hiram Johnson, who believes the main focus is high school. Trustee Cecilia Escamilla Greenwald is also “very much in favor of ‘away for the day,’” but only for TK-9. 

Trustee Joe Dinunzio and Board vice president Lea Darrah don’t see the need for the ‘away for the day’ policy. Dinunzio believes it is “less a policy issue than an operational issue.”

The board decided to agendize a policy vote for a future school board meeting.