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Teachers report fewer fights and more engagement since district phone policy; board asks staff to review enforcement and consider pilots
Summary
Teachers at a district advisory meeting told board members they have seen fewer fights and higher student engagement since Jordan School District implemented its electronic-devices policy, but they urged clearer enforcement and family outreach.
Board member and advisory-committee participants reported that many teachers who attended a recent Licensed Educator Advisory Committee (LIAC) meeting said the district's electronic-device policy has reduced fights and improved classroom engagement at many schools. The teachers described fewer in-class disruptions, but they also raised operational enforcement challenges: earbuds and students using hotspots to bypass district filters, parents texting students during emergencies, and inconsistent handling of repeated or chronic dress- and device-related violations.
Suggested next steps raised by teacher representatives and board members included: a district review of Administrative Policy AA453 (electronic devices) over the summer; communications to families explaining how to monitor phone use; and a board-funded pilot if a school community volunteers to try a bell-to-bell cellphone ban (the board indicated it would consider school-level pilot proposals brought forward by a school community council). Several board members and staff said they would like principals and transportation/operations staff to weigh in on enforcement feasibility and equity.
Board action: The board asked staff to put a cell-phone/electronic-devices review on a future study or business agenda (staff agreed) and invited principals, transportation and communications to participate in the review. Staff also said they would consider teacher requests for pilots if a school submits a community-backed plan.
