Ann Arbor School Board set to act on student cell-phone policy and three construction contracts
The Ann Arbor Public Schools Board of Education had a busy week, with a Governance Committee session on July 27 and a regular meeting plus a closed session on July 29. Minutes have not yet been published for any of the three gatherings, so what follows reflects only what was listed on the agendas — not confirmed outcomes.
Regular Meeting: Cell-Phone Policy and Construction Contracts
The July 29 regular meeting agenda called for board action on four items:
- **Draft Policy 5900** — a proposed policy restricting student use of personal electronic devices. The agenda lists this as a draft policy up for approval.
- **Contract AN-2286** — a re-bid contract for Dicken Elementary AV and low-voltage trades. The dollar amount was listed in an attached PDF rather than in the agenda summary itself.
- **Contract AN-2287** — a renovation contract for Forsythe Elementary exterior soffit repairs.
- **Contract AN-2283** — athletic-training services for Huron and Skyline High Schools.
Because minutes are not yet available, it is not possible to confirm whether each item was approved, tabled, or amended. Readers should check the board's official minutes once published for vote tallies and final dollar figures.
The agenda also included time for public commentary and committee reports.
Governance Committee Meets July 27
The Governance Committee met on July 27 to review policy updates and plan agendas for July and August. The session included a period for public commentary. No specific policy changes were listed by name in the available summary, and minutes have not yet been published.
Closed Session on Negotiations and Legal Matters
Also on July 29, the board held a closed session permitted under the Michigan Open Meeting Act. The agenda consisted of one negotiations item and eight items regarding attorney/client privilege. No details on the substance of those items were provided, as is standard for closed sessions.
What This Means for Residents
The cell-phone policy, if adopted, would set district-wide rules for when and how students may use personal electronic devices during the school day. The three construction and service contracts affect projects at Dicken Elementary, Forsythe Elementary, and the athletic programs at Huron and Skyline High Schools. Families and staff at those schools have the most direct stake in the construction work, while the device policy would apply district-wide.
Coming Up
No upcoming meetings are listed on the district calendar for the next two weeks (through August 17). Residents who want to confirm the outcomes of the July 29 votes should watch for the board's published minutes, which will include vote tallies and any approved contract amounts.