School considers cell phone ban

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
With the hopes of curbing distractions during the school day and eliminating an avenue for bullying and harassment, Superintendent Brad LaCroix and Newcastle Middle School Principal Tyler Bartlett are considering instituting a cellphone ban at the middle school during school hours. 
“One thing Tyler and I are discussing and wanted the board to have time to think about is the idea of limiting cell phone usage during the academic day,” LaCroix told the board of trustees on May 29. “The biggest problems happen because someone can text students and the staff has no clue what the problem is or what is going on. We have talked about responsible usage and how much technology the students need, and we think the school meets the academic technology needs of the students.” 
La Croix said that both he and Bartlett are “seriously thinking” about allowing before and after school use of cell phones – and possible use over the lunch hour – but banning use during the academic school day. 
“As far as distractions during the day, it is a challenge,” LaCroix said. 
He acknowledged that parents in the community may have issues with the cell phone ban, especially in emergency situations, but it is something the school and district will have to deal with. 
“Those emergency calls can come through the office. We can have systems of support in place and not set off too many buttons for the young kids,” LaCroix said. 
One Weston County School District No. 1 trustee asked how the middle school implements cell phone restrictions. 
“They can use them (cell phones) until the first bell rings, and then they can either put them away or we can have a nice “shoe holder” that works great for holding cell phones,” LaCroix said. “If you can handle the responsibility of not using it, then great. But if you cannot, you can put it in the phone rack and get it at appropriate times.” 
If a student continued to abuse cell phone usage, La- Croix said, the parents can then become involved and the student’s phone can possibly be banned from the school. 
Bartlett said that he has reached out to peers across the state to gather some opinion on school phone policies, noting that the value to having cell phones is not there for students who are also using laptops. 
“Not often am I for total restrictions, but cell phones are harder to responsibly use, and the issues we are seeing are tied to them,” Bartlett said. “It is sad but true. We would rather be able to teach students to use responsibly, but at this particular age, I don’t know if they are wired for that unless we want to delve into providing curriculum on cell phones and responsible use.” 
Bartlett said that the issues the staff is seeing are not going to be solved by a 10-minute discussion with the principal. 
“The biggest push back I see is with a select number of parents because they feel that the kids need to have them on them all the time,” Bartlett said. “That is the feeling of some members in the community.” 
He said that if cell phone usage were not allowed at all, it would be easier to get it across to the parents that they need to call the school in cases of emergency or other issues. 
“They need to call us. Heck, call my cell phone and I can run to get the kid in case of an emergency,” Bartlett said. “Then we will have more information going through the office and the adults will be better prepared.” 
Board chairman Tina Chick said that she would rather the school consider a full ban and not return the phones during the lunch hour. 
“I didn’t know how much you would want to bite off, but I don’t think either one of us would disagree with that,” LaCroix said. 
He said that the in-school ban on cell phone usage would allow students to be kids and get back to face-to-face interaction and socialization. 
“One thing that worries me is we take so much away from being young adults because kids are so enamored with
this (phones),” LaCroix said. “I know it sounds old-fashioned, but the thing is, I can tell you I don’t like you, but it is one thing to say it on the phone and another to say it by mouth.” 
Mental health issues among students are worse because of interactions over cell phones and how easy it is to say hurtful things when you are not face to face with the individual, LaCroix said. 
“I just want to say that taking phones away is not going to solve the mental health crisis at the school, but it is a big piece of it,” Bartlett said. “From a teaching perspective, it is easier to police these issues when things are black and white. It is easier to act on.” 
Bartlett said that “traditional” bullying does not exist very often today and that bullying and harassment occurs over the phone. 
Technology director Dave Ehlers offered support for the proposed policy, stating that the school district “works hard” to provide the adequate amount of technology for the curriculum presented within the district. 
“If they are hooked up to the Wi-Fi with these devices, if they are hooked up to our system then we have some outreach to limit their access but it is as simple as them shutting off the Wi-Fi and they have opened up access to anything,” Ehlers said. “Students figure out in about 30-seconds that if they are not the Wi-Fi they can not access certain distractions and I think this certainly outweighs the benefits of the cell phones.” 
“I am all for technology for education if it is being used as a tool and we work hard on creating an environment where what is needed is delivered,” Ehlers said. “If you don’t put restrictions on it then you are hampering learning and detouring from the curriculum we are paying people to deliver and the students to be graded on. It is not helping the curriculum at all.” 
Chick noted that she understands that this policy may be a “fight with the public” but that the teachers would probably be “happy
as clams.” 
“The issue is going to be the parents and we will have to be really diligent in educating on the topic. If we are going to do this we have to put education out there as to why we are and what we are and aren’t doing,” Chick said. 
Eastern Wyoming College local coordinator Kim Conzelman noted that this might be an opportunity for herself and EWC to put together a community education type of presentation on the subject that involves someone coming in and sharing information on the benefits and downfalls of cell phone usage to help families and the children better understand why the decision was made. 
“That could be something to explore and look into,” Conzelman said. “I think that is needed in our community.” 
“As a parent, I often, when something is wrong with my phone ask the kids for help
and if they know more than I do as parents I think it is a good thing to let us know about what is on the phones and what they can do,” Chick said. “I know a few of those things like Snapchat but not all of it and they are ever evolving. You could have a class every two months. I think it is a good idea.” 
Conzelman noted that several sessions could be planned for the community, parents and students and that she would look into the opportunity further. 
LaCroix asked trustees to consider the proposed policy on cell phone usage between now and the next meeting and Bartlett added that he would like to see about implementing the policy in the upcoming school year’s handbook. 
Trustee Dana Mann Tavegia requested that information on a similar proposal in the high school would also be appreciated by herself. 
“As students get older I think we need to give them some of the freedom to have responsibilities. We are seeing a big issue at the middle school with less maturity and mental health is tied to that device,” Bartlett said. “We have to do something.”