The SMUHSD board will hear a report on the district’s bell-to-bell phone ban at its Thursday, Oct. 8, meeting.
The San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD) meeting summary lists an “Update on Mobile Communication Device Policy Implementation” under Instructional Services. The policy requires students at district high schools, including Burlingame High School, to lock phones, smartwatches, earbuds and tablets in school-provided pouches or containers from first bell to last bell, subject to approved accommodations. It took effect for the 2026-27 school year.
The board built the ban in three steps. Trustees voted unanimously on March 26 to restrict personal devices bell-to-bell. On May 7, they approved the purchase of Quiet Case pouches.
San Mateo High kept its existing Yondr pouches. The board formally adopted the policy on June 25.
At a May 14 meeting with the Board of Trustees, students on the SMUHSD Student Board Council shared what Superintendent Randall Booker’s office described as “mixed feelings from frustration to excitement,” according to a superintendent’s message on the district website.
The policy meets the requirements of California’s Phone-Free School Act, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, which required districts to adopt phone-restriction policies by July 1, 2026.
Other agenda items
The board will also vote on a 2026-27 salary schedule for AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) Local 829, the union representing classified staff. The board approved AFSCME contract reopeners on June 25.
Trustees will consider a memorandum of understanding with Design Tech High School, the public charter school on Oracle’s Redwood City campus that operates under SMUHSD’s authorization. The meeting summary does not specify the MOU’s subject. The board approved a Design Tech MOU for teacher induction in June 2024.
A vote to increase the district’s Multilingual Learners Programs coordinator position from 0.4 to 1.0 full-time equivalent is also on the docket. The district has already hired two multilingual learner teacher support coaches and expanded Spanish-language outreach, according to the superintendent’s message.
Revisions to Board Policy 4318.4, the district’s salary program, round out the action items. The board reviewed that policy in November 2025.
The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at 650 N. Delaware St., San Mateo. Residents can also join by Zoom (Webinar ID: 955 8452 1141; Passcode: 995656) or email comments to [email protected].
