Parents of East Grand School District students received an email on the afternoon of March 5 with a survey regarding its student cellphone policy, which was last updated in 2017. I’m hopeful this community will submit responses that provide the school board ample encouragement and support to revise our outdated student cellphone policy in a way that achieves the following:

• Prevents students from readily accessing their cellphones during school hours (a bell-to-bell restriction that keeps personal devices out of our classrooms and away during common passing periods/lunch)
• Prevents the occurrence of teachers having to act as the cellphone police for 20-plus kids in their classrooms
• Outlines simple, meaningful and enforceable consequences for those out of step with the new policy

The district’s primary responsibility is to create learning environments that minimize distractions and foster academic growth. The research is clear that student cellphones are creating significant distractions throughout the school day.

The district also has a responsibility to our dedicated teachers who face the impossible task of managing their classrooms when cellphones are present. All parents should feel great empathy for teachers on this topic. I can’t imagine trying to capture the classroom’s attention when 20-plus students are preoccupied with the most recent notification that popped up on their phone. 

The survey is open through March 12.

Please consider the following resources, which I believe you’ll find valuable in forming your views and responses:

• Colorado Education Association Report on Cellphones in Schools
• Video of Sheriff (NY) Speaking About Student Cellphone Use During School Emergencies
• Video of Interview of Dr. Jonathan Haidt Discussing Strengthened School Cellphone Policy
• Video of Richardson ISD (TX) Administration Report on Strengthened School Cellphone Policy
• Video of Richardson ISD (TX) Student and Staff Feedback on Strengthened School Cellphone Policy