Phones in school: WCSD board talks cell phone policy as other districts move to implement bans (2024)

AP file photosAnthony Bruno, a student at the Washington Junior High School, uses the unlocking mechanism as he leaves classes for the day to open the bag that his cell phone was sealed in during the school day, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022, in Washington, Pa. Citing mental health, behavior and engagement as the impetus, many educators are updating cell phone policies, with a number turning to magnetically sealing pouches.

A ninth grader places her cellphone into a phone holder as she enters class at Delta High School, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, in Delta, Utah.

Locally, the Millcreek Township School District took a similar action last month.

Will such a change come to the Warren County School District? At this point, probably not.

Board member Tammi Holden said she received an email from a constituent on the district’s cell phone policy.

“Erie schools have gone to a no cell (phone) policy,” she said. “I don’t know if that’s something we need to discuss, perhaps take a look at.”

A ninth grader places her cellphone into a phone holder as she enters class at Delta High School, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, in Delta, Utah.

“We’ve gone back and forth over the years,” Superintendent Gary Weber said.

He said cell phone rules have been done “differently in attendance areas” ranging from bans to partial bans.

“When we tried to ban them, (we spent) a significant amount of administrative time chasing kids over cell phones,” he explained.

He stressed a belief that good instruction is an antidote to cell phone issues.

“When teachers engage kids, kids aren’t on cell phones,” Weber said. “We don’t have issues.”

Where do issues crop up? Weber said that’s in classes where support for teachers in classroom management and student engagement are needed.

“We can chase our tails all day long,” he said. “They are knee deep in social media.

“We’ve done it different ways…. I can tell you what has worked and what has not worked. We have not had many problems in the last several years with it.”

The district’s current “Technology and Internet Safety” policy states that “(s)tudents may use personal electronic devices that are not owned by the District, and that provide a wireless connection to the Internet, during the school day for educational purposes if, and only if, the type of device has been approved by the Superintendent or his/her designee and the student has the permission of the classroom teacher.

“The decision as to whether a particular type of personal electronic device is permitted to be used is within the sole and unrestricted discretion of the Superintendent or his/her designee. The use of a personal electronic device shall be optional and shall not be required by any teacher to complete, or be necessary to complete, any educational assignment given to students.”

Weber said that his approach to the issue is “really trying to make sure everyone is on the same page” and leaving enforcement at the building level.

Board member Mary Passinger looked at the issue from the perspective of the classroom teacher.

“It’s difficult when it’s left up to the classroom teacher to have to try to enforce it,” she said. “It makes it very, very difficult for most of them.”

“In my mind, we need to go back to just the basics of what is good instruction,” Weber stressed. “That’s our focus going into next year.”