M-A intensified its enforcement of phone policy this fall following the Phone-Free Schools Act, a recent state law that gives California districts until July 1, 2026 to adopt a policy limiting or banning phones during the school day. The school protocol itself—which requires students to have phones away during all instructional time—remains largely unchanged, though some say the new law means the policy will be enforced more strictly.
In a ParentSquare post, Principal Karl Losekoot outlined the school’s policy this year which requires that phones stay away for the entirety of instructional time. Students are still allowed to keep their phones during passing periods and lunch.
“I don’t know [if], off the top of my head, there’s anything new [with the policy],” Administrative Vice Principal (AVP) Tina Smith said. In addition to compliance with state law, the policy aligns with District goals of student focus in classes.
Many students haven’t noticed a difference between this and last year’s policy. “So far in class I haven’t really noticed anything different,” sophomore Dylan Fong said. “For the most part last year my teachers were already pretty good at making sure that everyone was held accountable.”
Others observed some changes in implementation. “In previous years, some classes would just be like I don’t want to see it, but now, every class kind of has something where I need to put it away,” senior Bennet Lomangino said.
“To me, the newness [of the phone policy] comes in the seriousness that we’re taking it,” computer science teacher Cindy Donaldson said. “Last year when I would poll my students, not every teacher was using a phone pocket, and it sounds like this year most teachers are using phone pockets.”
Although Donaldson is thankful for the ban during class time, she also appreciates the leeway provided during non-class hours. “I do feel, as a parent, there were times I needed to let my kids know something, so I appreciate that [students] have [their] phones between classes. I do think that’s okay,” Donaldson said.
The Board floated the possibility of a total phone ban, possibly involving the use of Yondr pouches, for next year, at the Aug. 19 Board meeting. It remains unclear whether the new changes to enforcement will be sufficient, or whether the ban will be necessary.
