By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
The Raton Board of Education met in a special meeting on Tuesday evening July 29, 2025, to discuss the wireless communication device policy and accept bids for janitorial supplies for the upcoming school year.
The board discussed the wireless device policy which includes cell phones, smartwatches, tablets wireless earbuds or headphones and gaming or media devices. According to the policy devices must be silenced and stored away during instructional time. Board member Ted Kamp suggested that device should be stored in the students lockers and that students can secure the locker as needed.
The allowed times are before school, lunch time and after school unless otherwise restricted by the administration. The policy also notes that all students will receive age appropriate instruction on responsible device use, screen time management, cyberbullying and digital safety.
Where the board wavered was on the discipline part of which some is covered by the school discipline policy.
On the first offense the device will be confiscated and placed in a clear lock box in the principal’s office. The student will receive one key and the principal will have the other key incase the student looses their key. The device will stay in the office until the end of the day when the student will b allowed to pickup the phone..
On the second offense the device will be confiscated and only released to a parent or guardian. On the third offense, other disciplinary action will take place such as detention and restriction from bringing the device to school the rest of the school year.
If a student is caught videoing a fight or photographing others without permission or using the device to cheat or accessing inappropriate content the student will loose the privilege of bringing the phone to school for the rest of the school year.
A final draft of the policy will be available on the district webpage and shared with families at the start of the school year.
The district put out an RFP for janitorial supplies and received bid from Burco Chemical and F&C Sawaya. Burco Chemical was the low bid on some items while Sawaya had the low bid on others. Burco’s accepted bid included tissue paper, paper towels, disinfectant bleach and others for a total $6831.82 with Sawaya supplying other cleaning supplies and large towel rolls for a total bid of $7551.02
