News and Views

During the last legislative session, the Minnesota Legislature directed all school districts to adopt a cell phone policy by March 15, 2025. In response, the School Board asked the community to provide feedback regarding student use of cell phones in schools. About 3,000 respondents completed a survey, and two community conversations attracted about 200 attendees. A summary of the responses is provided here.

This feedback was shared with a cell phone advisory committee made up of parents, students and staff for their review. The group met three times this fall, and identified themes found in the responses and provided the following recommendations to the School Board at its December 10 meeting:

• Elementary students should not access or use cell phones during school hours.

• Middle school and high school students should not access or use cell phones during scheduled academic class time or during activities/assemblies when instruction or information is being delivered. Students may access and use cell phones during non-academic or unscheduled time.

• The committee also advises the Board to charge administration to establish Regulations to accompany the Cell Phone Policy. These Regulations should outline the rules and procedures to be implemented at each educational level, school or program, addressing the daily practices and enforcement related to student access and use of cell phones.

• These rules and procedures related to the cell phone policy should be included in student handbooks or similar documents at all District schools and programs.
  
  

These recommendations will ultimately be used to help inform the Board in adopting a cell phone policy sometime in early 2025. Learn more at mvpschools.org/cellphones.

Operation Joy is an annual toy drive sponsored by the Ralph Reeder Food Shelf and other community organizations. The food shelf is still in need of gifts and gift card donations before the deadline of Friday, December 13. Learn more at their website.

New and unwrapped gifts and gift cards can be dropped off at the following collection sites:

• Mounds View Community Center, Mounds View
• New Brighton Community Center, New Brighton
• Winkin’ Rooster, Shoreview

As we move into the winter months, here are a few reminders about what to expect during inclement weather.

Registration for winter activities through Community Education is open now! Flip through the electronic catalog and register at mvpschools.org/RegisterCommunityEd.

Keep students engaged this winter with after-school sports classes, find your artistic side with our new stained glass classes, or join us for our award-winning senior community lunches.

Irondale High School's girls swimming and diving team has the highest average team GPA in the state, with an average of 4.05. Mounds View High School's team GPA average came in fourth overall with an average of 3.95.

(Minnesota State High School Swim & Dive Coaches Association Awards, 2024)

As a reminder, there will be no school December 23 - January 1, 2025. Students and staff will return to school on January 2, 2025. We hope our students and staff have a joyful and restful winter break.

Yog xa tau kev pab thiab hais ua lus Hmoob thov hu rau Bao Thao: 651-272-0972. Haddi aad ubaahantahay faahfaahin dheerad-ah ama turjamaad, fadlan kala soo xidid Muna Mohamed lambaraka 651-262-4577. Para asistencia o preguntas en Español por favor contacte a Angel Toro: 651-724-2854 o Carmen Bender: 612-494-3895.