The Parkland School Board unanimously approved two technology-related policies Sept. 15 that update rules governing student electronic device use and establish procedures for searching district technology resources, email accounts and student-owned devices during investigations.

The revised Policy 237 — Electronic Devices expands and clarifies rules for cellphones, smartwatches, tablets and other personal technology, while a companion electronic search policy outlines how district officials may monitor district technology resources and conduct searches when they have reasonable suspicion that a law, school rule or district policy has been violated.

Before the vote, resident Mike Bodnar questioned whether the revised electronic devices policy would result in meaningful changes from the district’s existing rules.

For more than two years, Bodnar said, Parkland families have urged the district to address student cellphone use more effectively. He argued the district’s current policy already restricts access to personal devices during instructional time and questioned what specific behaviors would be prohibited under the revised policy that are not already prohibited today.

“We don’t need another policy written on paper,” Bodnar told the board. “We need consistent enforcement and results.”

Bodnar cited neighboring Bethlehem Area School District as an example of stronger implementation. He referenced reports from Liberty High School showing low rates of unauthorized device use during classroom observations and said the district’s policy requires devices to be stored off a student’s person during the school day.

He also pointed to a growing national trend toward stricter cellphone restrictions in schools and questioned whether the proposal was actually stronger than the version adopted in 2022. Bodnar asked district officials to explain what conduct would be prohibited under the new policy that is not already prohibited today, how violations would be enforced, what penalties students would face and how compliance would be measured.

The revised policy expands district rules to address newer technologies, including smartwatches, Ai-enabled devices, smart glasses, virtual reality devices and wireless earbuds. It also adds specific restrictions on livestreaming, recording and broadcasting school activities without authorization and includes new language governing wearable technology, academic integrity and device use on school buses. Nonetheless, critics argued the policy largely preserves existing classroom cellphone restrictions and stops short of a full-day phone ban.

Despite those concerns, the board voted unanimously to approve the policy.

Under the revised policy, electronic devices include cellphones, smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, laptops, gaming devices, e-readers, cameras, recording devices, artificial intelligence-enabled devices, smart glasses, virtual reality devices and other technology capable of transmitting, receiving or storing digital information.

One of the most significant additions prohibits students from photographing, recording, livestreaming, broadcasting or otherwise distributing audio, video or images involving students, district employees, classrooms, instructional activities or school-sponsored events that are not open to the public without prior authorization from a building administrator or supervising employee. The prohibition applies to both in-person and virtual learning environments. Students are also prohibited from using electronic devices in locker rooms, bathrooms and other changing areas.

At the elementary level, students generally may not use electronic devices while in district buildings, on district property, on school buses or at school-sponsored activities.

Middle school students are prohibited from using electronic devices during instructional periods unless authorized for educational purposes. High school students may use devices during noninstructional periods including lunch and between classes provided their use does not disrupt school activities.

The board also approved a new electronic search policy establishing procedures governing searches of district technology resources, surveillance footage, email accounts and student-owned electronic devices.

The policy states users have no expectation of privacy while using district technology resources. The district may monitor, inspect and review emails, files, Internet activity and other information transmitted or stored through district-owned systems.

The policy establishes a formal process for searching district-owned technology based on reasonable suspicion. Separate procedures govern access to surveillance footage and archived email accounts.

Student devices may be seized for violations of Policy 237, but they may be searched only when administrators have articulable reasonable suspicion that evidence of a law or policy violation will be found. The policy references investigations involving harassment, bullying, threats, illegal drug activity and the distribution of prohibited images.

If administrators believe a student device contains evidence of criminal activity, they are directed to secure the device and refer the matter to law enforcement. For password-protected devices, administrators must seek consent before accessing contents.

The policy also contains an emergency exception allowing administrators or security personnel to conduct electronic searches when there is an immediate threat to student safety, school security or district property.