Meeting Recap: Board Approves New Cellphone Policy; New Asst. Principal Introduced

Here are three things that happened at the June 24, 2025 meeting of the Los Alamitos Unified School District Board of Education.

NEW MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICES POLICY ADOPTED

After some edits to the proposal on the agenda, the board voted 5-0 to pass the district’s first districtwide policy governing students’ use of mobile communication devices at school. Under the policy, devices must be turned off and stored out of sight during instructional time for all students at the district's nine campuses, with some exceptions.

Devices include: cellphones, smart watches, earbuds, AirPods, headphones, smart glasses and gaming devices.

The adopted policy differs based on grade level. Under the policy: 

• Preschool-8th grade students cannot use devices “while at a school site or under the supervision and control of a district employee.” This applies to students attending the district’s six elementary schools and two middle schools.
• Los Alamitos High School students can have communication devices but “shall not use them during class or instructional time.” Students in grades 9-12 can use devices during non-instructional time.

Teachers cannot allow students to use their devices as a “reward” or “incentive” at any time.

There are exceptions to the restrictions. Students can access devices:

• in an emergency or in “response to a perceived threat of danger”;
• if needed per an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 plan;
• for a health reason approved by a physician;
• if a teacher or administrator grants permission.

Teachers cannot grant exceptions on the spot. Exceptions “must be submitted through the designated school site administrative process in advance and be properly documented,” according to the policy.

An example of an exception brought up at the June 10 board meeting was a student in a yearbook class granted use of a device to take pictures of a school event. 

The policy encourages parents and students to utilize designated school phones, such as ones located in the school office, for “urgent communication” during the school day.

The district will be communicating about the new policy to families before the start of the 2025-26 school year, according to the district. Expect to see messages from school site administration, the district, a new signage on campus and in classrooms. 

• Read the entire policy here.
• Watch the discussion and vote from June 24 here.
• Watch the discussion from the first reading during the June 10 board meeting here.
• See slides on the new policy here.

We want to hear from you! What do you think about the new policy? Email hello@spotlightschools.com to share your perspective for a future story. 

Related reading:

O.C. Districts Curb Student Cellphone Use During School Day

California could soon require TK-12 public school districts to restrict students’ cellphone use on campuses, but several local school boards are already taking action.

Spotlight SchoolsJeannette Andruss

NEW ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL INTRODUCED

Alyssa Reyes was introduced as the new Assistant Principal of Curriculum and Instruction at Los Alamitos High School.

Reyes has more than 12 years of experience in education and was most recently an assistant principal at El Segundo High School and also previously worked as an assistant principal at San Pedro High School.

Reyes earned her bachelor’s degree at UC Santa Barbara, a master’s degree at Loyola Marymount and is pursuing her Doctorate at USC, according to LAHS Principal Christiana Kraus who introduced Reyes at the meeting.

“I'm incredibly excited for the opportunity to work at a school and district whose vision igniting unlimited possibilities through the four A's for all students isn't just a vision statement, but it's something that's lived every day through the academic offerings, programs, pathways and through the culture,” Reyes told the board. 

She was joined at the meeting by her husband, baby daughter, and mother. Reyes shared that this has been a long-term goal to be an employee of the district. "When I first moved to Long Beach in 2022 I knew that I wanted to work in Los Al and that went on my vision board immediately. And when I had my daughter 11 months ago, I knew I wanted her to graduate as a Griffin," Reyes said.

Reyes replaces David Platt in the position and is now one of four assistant principals at the high school serving under Kraus.

🏈 LAHS VARSITY FOOTBALL GAMES 

The board unanimously approved an agreement with the Huntington Beach Union High School District to have some home games for the Los Alamitos High School varsity football team at Westminster High School. The cost is not to exceed $3,000 per game, according to the agenda.

Trustee Matt Bragman pulled this item from the consent calendar, which are consolidated agenda items that are usually approved with one single vote. 

While the official locations of games have not been released, the varsity team has four home games this season, according to a schedule posted on the booster club’s Instagram.

Varsity did play some home games at the LAHS campus last season but, as Deputy Supt. Ondrea Reed explained at the June 24 meeting, the cost to host games on campus is much higher than using another stadium. That’s due, in part, to the need to rent equipment to accommodate larger crowds and to satisfy CIF rules requiring elevated boxes for coaches, Reed said.

"We love when we can host at home, but it should be noted, there is a dramatic increase in expense when we host at home. The price is double that of renting, and so those are costs that we try not to pass on to our boosters," Reed said.

She added that there is a plan to possibly host two back-to-back home games at the high school against non-league opponents from smaller schools that don't require as much stadium seating as a game against a league rival might.

The varsity team's home games have been played at numerous sites in the past including Veterans Stadium at Long Beach City College. Reed said the district is continuing to explore other locations including in the ABC Unified School District.

Another complicating factor is LAHS being placed in the Alpha League starting last school year. CIF reorganized Orange County high school football programs into new leagues and LAHS was placed in the most competitive league for public schools with just three other schools including Edison, San Clemente, and Mission Viejo high schools.

💵 One more thing: BUDGET ADOPTED

The board adopted the district's 2025-26 budget at the June 24 meeting. The budget forecasts enrollment will continue to decline, likely by 800 students over the next four years. The district was able to offset some of the impact this year due to an increase in the number of staff retiring.

As explained in the budget: "The district implemented a budget reduction plan, reducing both certificated and classified Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs) for 2025-26. The district also offered a Supplemental Early Retirement Plan (SERP), which secured approximately 40 retirements. Deficit spending will be closely monitored, as well as student enrollment and staffing."

👀 The Los Alamitos School Board's next meeting is scheduled for August 5. You can see the entire list of meeting dates for 2025 here.