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King George High School reports 691 cell-phone referrals; board votes to revisit policy
Summary
Principal Mark Watson told the board the high school logged 691 cell-phone referrals this school year, affecting 382 students and producing a range of disciplinary outcomes; the board asked for measurable success criteria and scheduled a policy review.
King George High School Principal Mark Watson updated the school board on the high school's cell-phone enforcement and said the high school has made progress but still faces challenges, especially with earbud/"ear" devices.
"We're looking at about 700 referrals from the time we began school this year. With 691 referrals you see we have 382 students as well as 309 repeat offenders," Watson reported. He said the division's maximum referrals for a single student was 17.
Watson provided additional disciplinary tallies attributed to phone-related incidents: 13 out-of-school suspensions, 73 in-school suspensions (ISS), 112 parent conferences, and five students currently not allowed to have a phone in the building. He said staff have logged 92 different staff members who wrote cell-phone referrals and that the administration had used a range of consequences including lockboxes, ISS, community service, and in a few cases sending students home.
Watson said the greatest remaining enforcement challenge is personal audio devices (AirPods/earbuds): "Our biggest challenge has really not necessarily been the phones being out, it's been what's in their ears." He added that the school has seen a qualitative decline in fights and social-media-related administrative time since implementing the initiative.
Board members asked for measurable criteria to evaluate the program. A board member suggested surveying students and staff and using a red/yellow/green review at the end of the year; Watson agreed to develop survey instruments and return with data. The board voted to make cell-phone policy revisions a possible action item at the next meeting to allow a careful review of the policy language concerning portable devices, watches and earbuds.
Several board members urged clarity for families about expectations and consistent enforcement across staff; Watson said administrators rely on relationships with coaches and sponsors to reinforce norms.
The board discussion also included procedural directions: members asked staff to propose measurable metrics (fighting incidents, ISS/OSS counts, referrals, qualitative staff and student surveys) by the next report so the board can assess whether the policy is reducing disruptive behaviors and improving instructional time.
Direct quotes in this article are from Principal Mark Watson and are taken from his presentation and Q&A with the board.
