Parent urges stricter cell‑phone limits; trustees say policy changes are being refined

Aubrey Watkins, a Pascagoula‑Gautier parent and minister, told the school board on May 12 that he wants the district to adopt stricter limits on student cell‑phone use, saying phones correlate with rising adolescent mental‑health problems and interfere with classroom learning.

Watkins said he applauds steps the administration is planning but called the current policy inadequate. “Phones are the best correlation we have with the rise of mental health problems among our adolescents right now,” he said, and added that classroom environments are affected even when students do not actively use devices.

Board members acknowledged the comment and described the district’s history with cell‑phone policy. One board member said the district previously had a zero‑tolerance policy but that it proved difficult to enforce and produce the intended outcomes. That member said the district is attempting to “dial in” an enforceable policy and that proposals are under consideration to remove “red tape” educators face when enforcing rules.

Board members and administrators discussed the tradeoffs between strict, hard‑to‑enforce rules and policies that teachers can consistently apply. The board did not take a formal vote or adopt a new policy during the meeting; the discussion was part of public comment and board response.

Watkins offered to help organize parental support for stronger rules. Board members said they had heard similar concerns from parents and staff and reiterated that policy revisions and additional enforcement steps are being considered for the coming year.

The meeting record contains no formal motion or vote on cell‑phone policy during this session.