The North Platte public school district officially banned cell phone and electronic devices in the schools Monday with a firm policy.

North Platte’s new policy reads: “Students may NOT use cellular phones or other electronic devices while at school during school hours.

The school board unanimously adopted the policy, 5-0; board member Cindy O’Connor was absent.

The policy is required following the Nebraska Legislature’s overwhelming approval of LB 140, which passed on a 48-1 vote. The bill requires all school districts in the state to implement policies restricting cell phones during instructional time, effective next school year.

The policy also states:

“Any student who is found to have any cellular phone, or other electronic device (AirPods, personally-owned tablet, gaming device, etc.) during school hours is in violation of this policy and the student code of conduct. Staff who discover students in possession of a cellular phone or electronic device while at school during the school day will immediately confiscate the device and turn it into the administration.”

And it goes on:

“In addition to the disciplinary consequences imposed, a parent or legal guardian of the offending student must pick up the confiscated devices from the office in person. The administration will return the device to the parent or guardian, after meeting with the parent or guardian to discuss the rule violation.”

“Students who repeatedly violate this policy may, at the discretion of the school’s administration, be subject to additional discipline, up to and including expulsion.”

Board member Angela Blaesi said several parents expressed concerns about being unable to reach their children during the school day or in an emergency. She reassured them that students can be reached through the school office.

Blaesi noted that in a true emergency, a ringing phone could create more risks.

Board member Justin Thompson agreed, and added that during emergencies, an influx of 911 calls from personal phones could overwhelm the dispatch system, potentially delaying responses from first responders.

All the board members agreed this is a good move for the district.

With the ban, Nebraska joins 16 other states that prohibit cellphones in schools. Eleven other states have restrictions of some kind, according to Ballotpedia.com.

A ban has been in place for two years at a high school in Massachusetts. Officials there say failure rates have dropped by 60% or more.

Improving attendance

In other business, Director of Student Services Brandy Buscher and Student Services Liaison Maggie Butler reported positive trends in attendance during the school year just ended, 2024–25.

The average daily attendance at North Platte High School rose by 3% from 2022–23 to 2024–25. Washington Elementary reported a 10% increase in students missing less than five days and a drop in students with more than 20 absences — from 10 students a year ago to just three this year.

The school also completed 100% of collaborative plans for students with chronic absences.

At McDonald, no elementary student exceeded 20 absences. Overall, the district had 92 fewer students miss more than 20 days compared to the previous year.

All but one elementary school achieved a 95% average daily attendance, and federal chronic absenteeism rates were reduced by more than 3% across the district, the administrators said.

Buscher said district goals include making attendance a focus in each school plan, strengthening collaboration with local law enforcement and legal authorities, and comparing proficiency levels to attendance data.

Preschools & reading achievement

Director of Elementary Teaching and Learning Lyndsey Douglas gave updates about the district’s preschool program and implementation of the Reading Improvement Act.

Douglas said Bullpup preschool has experienced a gradual reduction in classroom teachers during the last two years, decreasing from eight in 2023-24 to six in 2025-26, while continuing to support students with a team of specialists, including speech pathologists, occupational therapists, and paraprofessionals.

The enrollment of 4-year-olds continues a five-year downward trend, with just 123 students projected for the 2025-26 school year.

Douglas said all preschool classes will be held at the Buffalo Early Learning Center during the next school year.

She said preschool students demonstrated significant growth in early learning skills as measured by the Teaching Strategies Gold assessments. For example, proficiency in social-emotional development jumped from 23% in the fall to 89% in the spring, and math proficiency increased from 22% to 82%.

In grades K-3, the district is implementing LB 1081, Nebraska’s Reading Improvement Act, which uses three assessments each year to identify and support students struggling to read.

Districtwide, the number of students flagged for support dropped by half, from 243 in the fall to 120 in the spring, indicating significant progress. All elementary schools saw declines in the number of students needing Individual Reading Improvement Plans.

Cash flow

Director of Finances Stuart Simpson reported that the district’s monthly cash flow is currently the strongest it has been in five years. He credited the improvement to decreased spending and a state-issued property tax relief payment received in May.

Policies

The board approved the following policy updates:

• 3028: Sex Offenders – Removed the requirement to notify families about registered sex offenders in the district. Instead, schools rely on the Raptor visitor management system for alerts.
• 3029: Distribution of Flyers Advertising Non-School Organization Activities – Updated to allow digital flyers, now the preferred format, to be shared via the district’s Community Links webpage.
• 3030: Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) Program – Reassigned the role of AED Program Coordinator to the Associate Superintendent/Director of Finance, removing Simpson’s name.
• 3047: Data Breach Response – Added requirements to track vendor access to personal data and notify the district’s insurance provider in the event of a breach.
• 3052: Leasing Personal Property – Established that agreements involving $5,000 or more require written quotes from multiple vendors.
• 3053: Nondiscrimination – Added specific policy references to guide complaint procedures.
• 3057: Title IX – Adopted a streamlined version of the policy with shortened definitions, as advised by KSB School Law.
• 3058: Naming School District Facilities and Property – This new policy outlines the criteria and procedures for naming or renaming district facilities and properties. The policy defines what qualifies as a facility or property. It sets criteria for naming, including honoring individuals with significant contributions or donors who provide substantial financial support. It also includes a review process, legal checks and guidelines for renaming in cases where a name no longer aligns with the district’s values or mission. Existing facility names will remain unless changed under the new policy.

All those proposed revisions were approved unanimously.

However, two policies, 3024: Booster Clubs and PTO and 3026: Handbooks, were pulled from the agenda for further revision and will be reconsidered in July.

Also, Policy 3036 regarding the purchasing (credit) card program was tabled until July after board member Skip Altig expressed concerns that the proposed changes could lead to micromanagement.

In other business, the board approved:

• The resignation of Rhonda Larson, effective May 30.
• Teaching contracts for Rosaura Contreras, Amie Hare, and Christ Bertschinger for the 2025–26 school year.
• Minutes from the May 12 regular board meeting, the May 29 Committee of the Whole meeting, and the June 5 budget workshop.
• Monthly financial claims and reports.

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