Board seeks public input on device use

by Mary Le Arneal
Published 6/18/25

The North Bend Central Board of Education wants to hear from the stakeholders (that’s you) about the use of student cell phones and other electronics in school.

The policy on these devices now reads that students are not permitted to use any personal electronic devices during learning time. Personal electronic devices include smart watches, iPods, headphones (wireless or wired), cellular phones and any other device that stores and communicates data by electronic means. Learning time would mean time in classroom with an instructor. This information can be found on the front page of the school website. Click on "Middle/High School" tab, then scroll down down to see “Student Handbook” button.

The board agreed that the policy is only good if the teachers enforce it.
The July board meeting will be on Monday, July 14, 7:30 p.m. in the Tiger Den at the high school. If you want to say anything on this topic, you will need to sign in and have 5 minutes to speak.

The facility committee reported on its June 2 meeting when they discussed the concession and restroom building at the football field, adding a classroom at the elementary school, updating the middle/high school library, and doing improvements to the cafeteria to make it Americans with Disabilities Act compliant. No action was taken.

The board discussed the insurance students have for the computers they use. Middle school students are charged $25 for insurance each for Chromebook and high school students pay $40 each for Mac laptops. The computers have been turned in for the summer and will all be checked over. The board decided to leave the insurance the same but not to use this fund to purchase new devices.

Security systems SentinalOne (cyber-security, $5,253) and FortiEMS (already at school to connect to emergency responders, $21,769) were approved.

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