Hood River County School District (HRCSD) continues to work on a project, A Team Approach to Technology, to enhance student health and well-being by fostering responsible and balanced technology use within the school district and community. By developing comprehensive policies, procedures, and practices, HRCSD seeks to empower students, engage parents, and collaborate with educators to create a supportive environment that promotes physical, mental, and emotional wellness.

In the spring of 2024, HRCSD achieved the following objectives:

• Learned about current attitudes and behaviors surrounding technology use through surveys, focus groups, a school board work session, and research;
• Educated community about the impact of technology on mental, emotional, and physical health and the necessity for balanced and responsible usage;
• Developed a district technology plan for school device use.

The June 18 school board work session was focused on A Team Approach to Technology. The agenda included an overview of current technology-related policies, administrator and educator perspectives on technology and its impact on students, safety-related information, curriculum information, and the summary results of the technology survey, focus groups, and interviews. Andrea Davis, the founder of Better Screen Time, shared her perspective on healthy technology use.

HRCSD 's mission is built on five core values: student learning and growth, wellness, safety, family and community partnerships, and cultural responsiveness. To ensure the school district delivers on its mission for all students, HRCSD will increase its efforts to manage school-issued devices.

The key modifications to the school-issued device policy, procedures, and practices include:

• All applications on devices will be vetted by the school district and have a specific purpose. HRCSD will develop a scope and sequence for K-12 digital citizenship curriculum during the 2024-25 school year.
• School-issued devices will be stored at school for the elementary and middle school levels, and the option to check out devices when needed will be available.
• School-issued devices will remain on elementary and middle school classroom carts. Students may access them when directed by their teacher.
• School-issued devices will be used only when they clearly improve the depth of learning or introduce a skill.

Furthermore, HRCSD will become a cell phone-free environment during the school day. Cell phones and personal devices are not allowed by students during the day at middle or elementary schools. Upon our return to school in August, the school district and the Hood River Valley High School staff will begin working with students and parents/caregivers on school expectations, procedures, and an implementation timeline. HRCSD recognizes it must take the time to implement this cell phone-free environment at the high school thoughtfully and effectively to ensure it can achieve its intended outcomes: improving student engagement, health, and well-being. HRCSD will provide additional information in August.

Please contact Stephanie Hoppe, HRCSD communications director, for media inquiries or further information (phone: 541-387-5716 / email: stephanie.hoppe@hoodriver.k12.or.us).