Board discusses more restrictions on student cell phones

Staff at Lake Roosevelt Schools say that student cell phones have been a major issue in the classroom, and options for addressing the issue were discussed at the latest Grand Coulee Dam School District meeting. 

On Monday, school board directors discussed the issue of cell phones in the classroom when the topic of student and staff handbooks came up for discussion. 

The current cell phone policy in the elementary school’s handbook states that students can bring their phones to school, but can only use them before 8 a.m. or after 3 p.m., before and after school is in session. 

Superintendent Paul Turner noted that when the elementary school implemented this policy, it reduced the problems associated with the cell phones. 

The board discussed options for modifying the policy to be even more strict. Possibilities discussed included forbidding student mobile phones in school, checking in phones at the school office and checking them out after school, and that possibly phones could be checked out during lunch.

“From every level of our staffing,” Director Butch Stanger said about cell phones, “they said that it is probably the major issue that has to do with suspension and with issues in the classroom.”

“We’ve been living with this situation where we all know, for the teachers, it’s a constant battle,” Board Director Rich Black said. “It’s not only distracting, it’s bad for relationships in the classroom. It seems that it’s time for us as a board to make a change. … It’s just a constant irritation.” 

Turner told the group the junior/senior high school side is working on their own cell phone policy. The board indicated they’d like to see what they come up with before moving forward with approval of the handbooks. 

 The current elementary cell phone policy acknowledges that many students have cell phones in case of the need for emergency contact, but notes that students also have access to the office phone for such situations.

A 2019 Star survey asked about the same issue of cell phones in the classroom, receiving responses from students, staff, and parents.

One student noted that in an extreme emergency, such as a school shooting, a student wouldn’t be able to access the office phone to contact a parent.

An LR graduate commented “why not start implementing models of responsible technology use at a younger age?” further noting that there aren’t restrictions on smartphone use in higher education or in many workplaces.

Some staff noted that smartphones can be helpful too.

“Phones are a primary means of communication in society,” one teacher/staff respondent wrote. “Schools reflect society. Schools exist to teach. You can’t teach effectively by prohibiting or ignoring technology or other issues that are a fundamental part of society. Actual teaching, rather than control, would be a radical concept to many (districts, parents, students, and teachers).”

Despite these views, most comments tended to view cellphones as a distraction from education.

Those comments can be read in the 2019 article found at grandcoulee.com and searching for “Smartphones: a distraction or a tool?”