In previous years, phones in the high school have always been allowed in the hallways and with permission in classes. Students would turn their homework in via Canvas. This practice changed with the August 13 board meeting, one week before school started, when the school board voted to change the high school’s cell phone policy. The student handbook now matches the district board policy, which reads: ”Students may use cellular phones, pagers, and other electronic signaling devices on campus before school begins and after school ends.” This policy change has sparked a wide range of reactions from teachers, parents, and students.
The school board re-visited the cell phone policy at its Sept. 10 board meeting. Principal Cole Maxwell stated from his perspective the phone ban is overall going really well, and he noted there have been “no major negative impacts”. Maxwell did however state “there has been more of an impact on teachers than students.” unauthorized phone use remains prohibited unless before, after school, or during lunch. Maxwell added that homework completion and submission on Canvas have been going well under the new rules.
Emily Fabich, a school board member and current Park High parent, states “I feel like less phone time is always a good thing. Social media definitely has negative impacts, but I do worry that it’s making kids less efficient not having their phones to specifically turn in homework or to do specific phone apps like Duolingo and other apps that are easier to do on the phone.”
Many classes still require the use of phones and many teachers are still trying to figure out how to work their classrooms while still following the policy. The school board is aware that the new policy has impacted the teachers and the way they teach their classes. Fabich says “I believe it is important for teachers to voice their opinions on how this is impacting their teaching style.”
Board Member Luke Jergenson believes the phone ban is going great and said, “All interactions that can be done in person away from the phone are a good thing.” Jergenson also stated if he were to tweak the policy he would “remove them 100%,” adding he was surprised the whole board voted in favor of the ban. “I would have pushed for it a long time ago, had I known that there’d be that much support in it,” he said.
Overall the board seemed to view the ban as effective, with minimal disruption and student compliance.
