As we prepare for another great school year in USD 365, we want to share two important updates that will affect all students and families. Both changes are the result of recent Kansas legislation and new Board of Education policies designed to create a safe, focused, and transparent learning environment.

Student Personal Electronic Devices

Beginning this school year, student use of personal electronic communication devices—including cell phones, smart watches, earbuds, and similar devices—will be limited during the school day.

Our goal is simple: to help students stay engaged in learning, reduce distractions, improve peer interaction, and maximize instructional time.

Students are encouraged to:

• Leave personal devices at home whenever possible.
• Leave devices with a parent or guardian during drop-off.
• Store devices in their vehicle if they drive to school.

If a student brings a device to school, it must remain powered off and stored according to building procedures throughout the school day.

Each school will communicate any building-specific procedures regarding device storage and expectations.

If a student needs to contact a parent or guardian during the school day—or if a parent needs to reach a student—the school office will continue to assist with communication just as it has in the past.

ParentSquare Is Our Official Communication Platform

USD 365 is also implementing a district-wide communication standard for all school-related activities.

This school year, ParentSquare is the official platform for communication between school staff, students, and families.

Families can expect to receive information such as:

• Classroom updates
• School announcements
• Practice and activity schedules
• Club and organization information
• Event reminders
• Team communications
• Transportation or schedule changes
• Other important school information

Teachers, coaches, sponsors, and activity directors will no longer communicate school-related information with students through text messages, social media messaging, or other communication apps.

District social media pages, such as Facebook, will continue to celebrate student accomplishments, share news, and promote upcoming events. However, they will no longer be used for two-way communication or for distributing important school information that requires a response or action.

Using one consistent communication platform helps ensure that information is delivered to both students and parents, creates a reliable record of school communications, and provides greater transparency for everyone involved.

Working Together

We understand these changes may require some adjustment for students, families, and staff. As we implement these new state requirements, we will continue to evaluate our procedures and make improvements when appropriate.

Thank you for partnering with us to support a learning environment that is focused, safe, and centered on student success.

If you have questions about these changes, please contact your child's school office. We appreciate your continued support of USD 365 and look forward to a successful school year.