HUTCHINSON, Kan. (June 23, 2025) – At the Hutchinson USD 308 Board of Education meeting on Tuesday evening, the board discussed a proposed cell phone policy, which would be included in the student handbook if adopted. For elementary schools, the policy would remain unchanged: no cell phones, headphones, or AirPods are allowed from entry to dismissal, and must be turned off and kept in backpacks. In middle schools, devices would need to be turned off and kept in lockers or backpacks from the first bell to the last bell (8 AM to 3 PM), with no devices allowed during lunch or in hallways. For high school students, devices can be on their person but must be on silent and out of sight from the beginning to the end of each class period. The policy would accommodate students with IEPs, 504 plans, or those requiring medical monitoring devices. The board also discussed the inclusion of smartwatches, with some members viewing them as a distraction and others seeing their value for emergencies and fitness tracking. Recording-capable glasses were also mentioned, with existing handbook rules prohibiting recording. The board ultimately tabled the district’s cell phone policy until the next meeting.
The board was also asked to approve a bid from MBC construction in the amount of one hundred seventeen thousand, nine hundred and fifty nine dollars, to construct calming rooms at Morgan and McCandless and two additional rooms, and make bathroom ADA accessible at Faris. The calming rooms would provide a space for kids who are overstimulated, disruptive, or physically aggressive, to relax, calm down, and regroup. These rooms would not require loss of classrooms, as they would be added into the back of larger existing classrooms. The board Moved to approve the construction and renovation at the three sites.
Additionally, the board discussed the concept of year-round schooling and its potential benefits for students. They acknowledged numerous possible positive impacts, emphasizing the necessity of gathering input from various stakeholders within the school community to determine the full benefits and/or consequences of such a decision. No action was taken on this matter; however, the board agreed to continue thinking about and discussing the idea.
