School board To Review Cell Phone Policy

The Arrowhead School Board is reviewing District Policy 649-Possession of having personal electronic devices. Students can have cell phones in school, but should not be allowed to use them in classrooms unless given permission from the teacher.

An email sent out by Laura Myrah said, “Personal electronics are permitted for students. Determining if students should continue to be allowed to carry/use cell phones during the school day.”

The school board asked for feedback from staff to see what their opinion is on the topic. The survey asked the staff if they agree or disagree with banning students from having cell phones during the school day. 

The survey also asks if the staff can provide feedback on the current policy. Their feedback is due by January third at four pm. 

Most students said that they want to continue and use cellphones during the school day or per teacher request as the current policy states. 

Junior Shannon Kurtz likes the original policy and thinks that while quizzes or tests are being taken “of course the phones shouldn’t be out that makes sense but they could be helpful to students in other ways.” 

Junior Noelle Urban agrees with Kurtz by stating, “I really like the original policy. It gives me freedom for not only social media but also allows me to connect to my parents and people outside of school in case of an emergency.”

While these students like the original policy, teachers are saying differently. 

Math teacher Chris Martin says he believes that the new policy of not allowing kids to have their phones in class is a good idea. Martin thinks that it is very unnecessary for students to have their cell phone with them in class. He says, “Phones are a big distraction when they are just not needed and we only get students for forty minutes a day and for students to use their phone during class is a waste of time and can affect them.”  

English Teacher Fredrick Rauch, like Martin, also said it is also a good idea to implement the new policy with no cell phones in class. Rauch says, “It wouldn’t be too much of a change because it’s not like we are taking away technology, students would still have their computers and such, phones would just be taken away and should stay in their lockers.”

Another English teacher Jennifer Passler says she has mixed feelings about the policy. On one hand, she says it would be a good idea because there would not be the distraction of the phone in front of them. She says, “Students and staff may be more productive if their phone was not reachable during class time.” On the other hand, she also says she knows that phones can be a good resource for kids to use whether that be for contacting their parents or using it for information. 

Passler says, “It is a very tough decision to think about and I am not quite sure what I am going to say on the survey.”