Parents press Platte County board to rethink proposed cell-phone restrictions in schools

A parent addressing the Platte County School District number 1 board said the district should reconsider a proposed cell-phone ban because, she said, restrictions are already being enforced and the ability for students to call parents is vital in emergencies.

Harley Ruby, who identified herself as a parent of two students in the district, told the board she believed the proposed policy was being informally imposed before formal adoption and recounted an incident in which she said her daughter was barred from calling her for more than an hour after sustaining a head injury. Ruby said communication failures during past lockdowns left families uncertain and that parents “deserve peace of mind” to reach their children in times of need.

Ruby also acknowledged that phones can be distracting in class and urged balanced approaches such as storing phones in holders during lessons with access at lunch or for emergencies. She asked the board to prioritize student safety and parental access while integrating reasonable classroom rules and instruction about appropriate recording in public spaces.

Board members responded that the cell-phone policy revisions would be considered in the policy committee process and noted two explicit exemptions added to the draft policy: health-related use approved by administration and accommodations for students with IEPs or 504 plans. Board members also clarified that the current policy remains in force until a revised policy completes the two-reading adoption process.

Next steps: the personal electronic devices policy was approved on its first of two readings during the meeting and will return for a second reading before final adoption.