The Maricopa Unified School District Governing Board updated its student cell phone policy yesterday to align with a new state law requiring tighter restrictions on the devices. The action comes not long after a Maricopa high school student was charged with the aggravated assault of an educator who confiscated his phone.
House Bill 2484, passed by the Arizona Legislature and now in effect, mandates that school districts restrict student access to cell phones and social media platforms throughout the school day except when teachers carve out an exception or emergencies.
Tracey Pastor, the assistant superintendent of administrative services, presented the revised policy to the school board at last night’s meeting.
“Our student handbook has long stated that cell phones and electronic devices must be turned off and put away as soon as students arrive on campus,” said Pastor. “They are not to be used at any time during the school day unless identified for instructional purposes by the teacher or for special circumstances.”
While the district already has a cell phone policy in place, the new draft is more directly aligned with the state law, which requires schools to include specific restrictions in handbooks and district policy documents. It specifies how cell phones can be used for individualized education programs, or IEPs, and medical needs.
“Administrators are overwhelmingly in support of the change and are looking forward to seeing increased focus on instruction and fewer distractions,” said Pastor to the board members, who voted unanimously to update the district policy.
The revised policy will be included in updated student handbooks and distributed to families through school newsletters and orientation events. Students who violate the policy will face consequences outlined in the district’s code of conduct.
“Phones are distracting, even for adults,” said board Vice President Patti Coutré. “Giving teachers control with clear guidelines is really important.”
In February, a substitute teacher at Desert Sunrise High School took a student’s phone away during class. In response, the student allegedly attacked the teacher. The substitute was injured, the wall was damaged and the teacher’s glasses were broken.
The student was arrested at Desert Sunrise and charged with aggravated assault and disrupting the school. The status of that case is unknown because the defendant is a minor.
Maricopa Police Department released body-worn camera footage of the arrest to InMaricopa today.
