FARMINGTON — The Regional School Unit 9 board of directors reviewed a proposed phone-free school policy May 12 that would prohibit students from using or carrying cellphones, smart watches and other personal electronic devices during the school day.

The proposed policy, titled “Cell Phones and Other Personal Electronic Devices in Schools,” would replace the district’s current student electronic device policy, according to board documents.

The draft policy would create a bell-to-bell prohibition on student use of personal electronic devices from prekindergarten through grade 12, while allowing limited exceptions for health needs, individualized education programs, Section 504 accommodations, language support services and emergencies authorized by a building administrator.

Board members also discussed revisions to the district’s student code of conduct and rules governing student use of personal electronic devices at school.

Under the draft policy, students would be prohibited from using cellphones and other personal electronic devices with internet or cellular connectivity for the entire school day. Students also would not be permitted to carry, wear or access personal cellphones, smart watches or other devices during the school day.

The draft policy states that before the starting bell, cellphones and other personal electronic devices must be powered off and stored as determined by the building administrator.

Superintendent Christian Elkington said the proposed changes are intended to align district policies with new state requirements while continuing efforts to reduce classroom distractions caused by phones and personal devices.

“Per our attorney and Maine School Management (Association) we needed to make adjustments in our policy and add a new policy to keep up with the new law,” Elkington said.

He said the district’s primary focus would be limiting phone use “during the school day.”

Mt. Blue High School in Farmington has seen improvement after implementing stricter expectations around student phone use at the start of the current school year, he said.

“With the changes made at MBHS to begin this school year they have seen a big improvement,” Elkington said.

Elkington described the proposed revisions as updates to formalize practices already being enforced in the district, particularly at the high school level.

“It is an update to satisfy and support state law,” he said.

The draft policy says violations may result in a verbal warning and direction to store the device in the designated location. It also says devices may be confiscated for the remainder of the day, and repeated violations may require a parent or guardian meeting or result in additional interventions or disciplinary consequences.

The policy changes have not received final approval.

“The adjusted policy needs to go through one reading and the new policy two readings at the board level,” he said. “We do not expect much to change based on the new law as we are already enforcing higher expectations in grades 9-12.”

The draft policy also states that the district would not be responsible for loss, theft or damage to students’ personal devices brought to school or onto school property, including buses, parking lots, athletic fields and other school facilities.

The Mt. Blue School District includes Chesterville, Farmington, Industry, New Sharon, New Vineyard, Starks, Temple, Vienna, Weld and Wilton.