Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Phones Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cannon County school board workshop reviews new cell-phone policy; teachers report fewer classroom disruptions
Summary
At a workshop ahead of the Aug. 14 meeting, Cannon County school staff presented survey results showing reduced phone use and improved student engagement under a new wireless-communication policy; board members debated purchasing phone storage cases and deferred final decisions to the regular meeting.
Cannon County school officials on Tuesday reviewed an updated wireless-communication policy and shared early survey results indicating a sharp reduction in student and staff phone use and improved classroom engagement.
The district presented teacher-survey data showing that 97.4% of respondents rated student engagement in class as “somewhat better” or “significantly better” after implementation of the policy. District staff said there have been seven recorded infractions since implementation — three for earbuds and four for cell phones — and no incidents affecting school values were recorded.
School staff described qualitative improvements in student behavior and peer interaction. One teacher said, “Students are ... talking to one another. Kids are engaged,” and another classroom teacher told board members she has seen students who previously struggled begin to connect with peers and participate more. A staff member said teachers and staff also report a “huge decrease” in their own phone use while on campus.
Board members and administrators discussed whether to purchase clamshell-style phone storage cases or keep that option on hold. Some board members said they saw no immediate need to spend district funds on cases; one member said, “I don't think we have to do that. No,” while others supported keeping cases available if future need arises. A cost figure mentioned during discussion — described by a speaker as about $18,000 — drew pushback from members who said the district should avoid unnecessary spending while early results appear positive.
The workshop clarified that the cell-phone rules are included in school handbooks and that discipline largely remains at principals’ discretion. Staff noted the policy aligns with state law limiting phone use during instructional time but that schools retain discretion over enforcement specifics.
Board members agreed the topic generated significant feedback from teachers, students and parents and that further discussion and any formal purchases or policy amendments would be taken up at the district’s regular meeting on Aug. 14.
Less-urgent details: administrators said middle- and high-school levels are most affected by the policy; elementary infractions were minimal. Staff said repeated offenders were not identified in the small set of infractions.
