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Students at Mesa Public Schools present varied fixes to district cell‑phone policy, call for clearer enforcement and 'brain breaks'
Summary
High school teams from seven schools presented recommendations at a Mesa Public Schools study session, urging consistent enforcement of existing policy, age‑differentiated rules, student education and scheduled phone breaks rather than a districtwide ban.
At a Mesa Public Schools governing board study session focused on the district's cell‑phone policy, student teams from multiple high schools presented proposals urging clearer enforcement, more education for students and staff, and schedule‑based “brain breaks” instead of a blanket ban.
Students and staff framed the discussion around the district's Chapter 5305 cell‑phone policy, which the governing board adopted in the spring and implemented in July. Superintendent Dr. Andy Forless told the board the district had gathered community feedback after publishing the new rules and that a community survey in September drew more than 700 responses; about two‑thirds of respondents judged the policy “highly or mostly effective.” President Hutchinson told the room the board wanted to hear the student voice: “The solution is in the room,” she said.
Student teams described recurring problems: inconsistent enforcement across classrooms, competing classroom uses for phones, and distraction. Grace Guthrie, a Dobson High School student, summarized her team's view: “The current district policy is very good, however, we feel the enforcement is poor,” and added that consistent teacher and administrator enforcement is essential to prepare students for adult expectations. Her team also relayed a comment from a Genius Bar participant, Detective Herpager, who warned, “If we don't follow our policy, we're in trouble,” language they used to underline consequences of noncompliance.
Presentations recommended several common solutions. Multiple teams proposed grade‑differentiated rules: stricter limits for elementary students, restricted access for middle‑schoolers, and more autonomy for upperclassmen. Mesa High presenters said younger students should surrender phones to teachers or turn them in for the day, while seniors should have fewer restrictions to build self‑management skills. Red Mountain and Mesa High teams suggested tiered consequences and districtwide consistency so students experience the same rules across classes.
Many student groups pushed for nonpunitive approaches to reduce in‑class distraction: schedules that include short, regular
