Coronado trustees are leaning toward banning phones at Coronado Middle School beginning next year, while tightening restrictions at the elementary and high school levels.
On March 12, the board discussed changes to its cell phone policy, with the majority supporting a more restrictive policy at the middle school campus that would require students putting away devices from the moment they arrive on campus until they leave.
According to Superintendent Karl Mueller, district staff will present a graduated approach that includes expectations for the elementary schools, a program at the middle school that completely restricts cell phone use from bell-to-bell, and expectations and consequences at the high school.
Mueller said policy changes could be revisited in the future as “we can always expand up and expand down, any policy that we put in place.”
“Staff has direction and we will bring back a policy in April for consideration,” said Mueller. “Our timeline and our goal remains to have something in place for the first day of school next year.”
Looking at options
The report included four options for board discussion and consideration:
- No change to the current policy.
- Incorporating lockable device bags at the four schools at a cost of $76,869.23.
- Piloting lockable device bags at Coronado Middle School only, at a cost of $25,328.93, while strengthening and enforcing the cell phone policy for elementary and high school levels.
- Strict and consistent enforcement of policy in alignment with CUSD’s Discipline Action Guide using classroom lock boxes.
Trustee Malachy Sandie was the only trustee who supported a full ban at each of the four Coronado campuses.
“I don’t see a lot of goodness coming from these phones,” said Sandie. “If I had to pick an option, I would say option D. I think there’s probably more solutions out there that we could go to, ones that are enforceable, and ones that are not a burden on the teachers and staff.”
Trustee Fitzhugh Lee said he believes lock boxes could be more effective than pouches.
Ella Mathis, a junior at Coronado High School, said the lockable pouches could be hacked. Mathis told the board she supports restricting cell phone use adding that Option C is in the best interest for all Coronado teachers, students, and administrators.
“Technology is inescapable,” said Mathis, asking the board to consider the different situations at each grade level for an effective policy. “Just like we trust high school students during lunch, we should also trust them to handle the responsibility of having a cell phone.”
Trustee Alexia Palacios-Peters said she was leaning towards Option B, to update the policy across the four school sites, before public comment.
“I think piloting this instead of doing a broad stroke implementation is probably smarter,” said Palacios-Peters. “I would be more inclined to start with a pilot of the Yondr (cell phone pouches) at the middle school.”
Coronado Middle School Principal Brooke Falar said she supports no cell phones on the middle school campus beginning next year.
“…I would be happy to try something new, which includes lockable bags for devices,” said Falar. “We need to find a better solution for the middle school students. I think it can create a safer environment and an even better culture at CMS.”
Student Board Representative Haissam Kouli told the trustees a lock box is the most wise decision for the high school.
“The main problem is having cell phones during instructional time and lock boxes will solve that,” he said. “I believe that there is definitely merit in taking away cell phones entirely from any other schools, but at the high school, I don’t see the need for that.”
Anika Talavera, a senior at Coronado High School, told the board she believes a bell-to-bell phone restriction is best for middle school to address students using phones during breaks rather than socializing.
“At the high school level, students have already learned how and when to use the technology as appropriate,” said Talavera, who opposed a uniform policy across the district. “So I ask that when deciding changes to policy, please keep us in mind.”
Board President Renee Cavanaugh said at the elementary school level there are a lot of smart watches.
“It’s like a status symbol, and kids go to the bathroom and grab their phone,” said Cavanaugh, who likes the idea of a lock box for these students.
“You come in and you put in your phone and your Apple Watch and your AirPods and Fitbit … and its bell-to-bell you don’t get it until the end of the day,” she said. “I like the pouch idea for the middle school, especially since the administrator is really calling for some help here…”
Mueller said the district does not want administrators’ primary focus to be monitoring and policing.
“I do think it’s important that we partner with our parents,” said Mueller. “I mean, at the end of the day, our parents are the ones purchasing and paying the monthly fees for some of the students within our district to have smart devices.”
Mueller said staff will bring back a proposed revised policy to reflect the board’s conversation.
“I really want to stress, we can always revisit,” said Mueller. “We’re constantly pivoting. Technology evolves, our policies can evolve in support of our students’ mental and physical safety.”
In other matters:
- The district’s classified employees of the year are: Daniela Luppi, Dana Kane, Eileen Rodriguez-Troestch, Rachel Lozano, Spencer Smith, Abraham Contreras, and Megan Pettit.
- The board authorized the district to enter into a professional services agreement with the Small School Districts’ Association for the 2026-2027 school year for membership and enrollment in a board policy program.
- The board unanimously approved the resignation of one employee by way of resignation and release agreement in closed session. The board will also release or reassign five certificated employees effective at the end of the 2025-26 school year.
The next regular board meeting is set for 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 16 at the district office.
