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D51 board approves new cell phone policy, contract with MVEA.The Mesa County Valley School District 51 Board of Education voted unanimously this week to update the district’s cellphone policy, which will now see all K-12 students separated from their phones throughout the school day.Under the previous policy, students in kindergarten through the eighth grade couldn’t have their phones at all, while high school students were permitted access to their devices outside of classes.This policy now applies the same standard across all grades.“It’s not a major shift.This is a pretty minor shift we’re making to the policy,” said D51 Superintendent Brian Hill.“I can’t find a district that’s moved to a full-day ban who’s said, ‘I don’t regret doing it.’ I think it’s actually going to produce better results for us.” The vote was preceded by a discussion about the pros and cons of the policy.Board President Jose Luis Chavez said he spoke to parents and students and “it’s been difficult, to say the least.” He questioned whether it’s teachers’ jobs to teach students how to use their phones, but he also said he knows phone use is hurting students in class.Board Member Barbara Evanson said, as a parent, she and her husband didn’t let their son have a phone until recently, and he’s now in the ninth grade.She believes parents are the ones who are responsible for their kids’ phone usage, but she also said she knows nearly all middle school bullying incidents involve phones.Board Member Kaci Cole pointed out that, in case of emergencies, there are exceptions in district policy that allow students to hold onto their phones.“I don’t want to call it a ban,” Cole said.“It’s a protection of our educational time.” Board Treasurer and Secretary Andrea Haitz said “the timing makes sense” since eighth-graders moving into high school are already used to parting with their phones for the entire school day.Haitz added that students can speak with their principals if they need to keep their phones on them, and principals can make decisions on a case-by-case basis.“Our job is to protect and give access to as much instructional time that’s unhindered and without distraction,” Haitz said.“Public education is about learning and ensuring we have the space across every classroom in this district to ensure that teachers are able to do the work they were hired to do,” added Board Vice President Vicki Woods.BOARD APPROVES NEW DEAL WITH TEACHERS’ UNION The board also unanimously approved a new contract with the Mesa Valley Education Association.This agreement supersedes and cancels all previous agreements, going into effect July 1 and remaining in effect until June 30, 2029.For the 2026-2027 school year, a 1.5% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) has been applied to the salary schedule, with each eligible covered employee receiving one step in the district’s lane advancement payment structure.The suspended step structure in 2025-2026 is restored through the contract if and when additional recurring general fund dollars become available, including recurring funds generated through the massage of a new Mill Levy Override that permits this usage.Additionally, administrators shall implement disciplinary responses in line with the student code of conduct, D51 Behavior Support Matrix, and applicable board policy.If a teacher removes or refers a student to the office for disciplinary reasons and the student is subsequently returned to the classroom, the administrator shall communicate to the teacher the reason for the student’s return and any corrective, restorative or safety steps taken prior to the student’s return to the classroom.If behavioral concerns remain unresolved, the employee may submit a written statement to the site director and administrator for review.The site director will meet with the employee to review the concern and provide a written response as soon as possible.For school psychologists, an annual stipend will be provided in the amount of $5,000 — up from $2,000 — prorated for FTE.This stipend will be funded using available Medicaid grant funds not otherwise allocated.The agreement also recognizes that Early Release Fridays are protected time collaborative professional learning for employees.The district and MVEA agreed to engage in a study of the implementation of Early Release Fridays during the 2026-2027 school year to ensure it’s relevant, differentiated and impactful for all educators.“I would just like to thank the teams on both sides who were willing to come together to work things out,” Chavez said.“As the facilitator said, this was the fastest contract thing she’s ever seen in the whole state of Colorado.” “It just shows you that, when you can work together leading up to the negotiation dates, things can go smoothly,” added Hill.