New policy bans student cell phones during school

Students at Lake Roosevelt Junior/Senior High School may feel like something is missing during the coming school year as smart phones will not be allowed during the school day.

According to a handbook policy approved on July 25 at the Grand Coulee Dam School District board meeting, the students aren’t allowed to have their cell phones during the school day, not even during lunch.

“Students will be asked to NOT bring phones to school,” the handbook reads. “Students who have their phones at school will be asked to store them in lock boxes. This will include smart watches and any other personal devices.”

“The best way to contact students during the school day is to call the office for any type of message or change to a pick-up/departure routine. We encourage parents and guardians to use this method of communication and NOT rely on messaging.”

The handbook lists issues with phones that led to the implementation of this policy, including that: “students have been caught taking videos and pictures of other students in the bathroom and posting it on social media; pictures have been taken of other students in the classrooms without permission and posted to social media; students have taken videos of fights and posted them on social media; many social conflicts are occurring during school hours due to students communicating through social media; Tik Tok and other social media ‘Challenges’ have been enacted at school. Students are photographing or video recording these acts. These Challenges are causing hundreds of dollars in damage.” 

Students won’t be able to use their phones at lunch either.

Principal Natalie Kontos presented the handbook to the school board who felt that the strict policy against smartphones was for the best.

The elementary school handbook doesn’t say as much about cell phones, but the policy is essentially the same.

“We understand that many students have phones for family contact and emergency use,” the elementary handbook reads. “However, due to digital content issues, harassment, and inappropriate use, the following is our cell phone use rule. Cell phones may be brought to Lake Roosevelt Elementary if they are kept off and out of sight during the school day. Students may use their cell phones before (8:00 AM) and after school (3:00 PM). The office phone is available for use by students for emergencies. Additionally, parents may call the office at 509- 633-0730 to leave a message for their child.”