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Student survey shows phones are a classroom distraction; board weighs a consistent cell-phone policy
Summary
District staff presented results from a student advisory survey showing most students view cell phones as a classroom distraction, while a majority preferred keeping teacher-discretion. The board directed staff to reconvene the student group to draft recommended policy language.
District staff told the board they convened a random group of roughly 35–40 students to survey attitudes about classroom cell-phone use and to solicit policy input. Speaker 10 summarized the results and said staff will meet the advisory group again to draft possible recommendations.
Speaker 10 described the survey findings: students rated cell phones as a classroom distraction (the mode response was 4 on a 1–5 scale and an average of about 3.5), said phones contribute to drama and discipline incidents (mode 4, average ~3.3), and reported moderate anxiety associated with phones (mode 3, average ~3.1). "77.1% would still like for it to stay the same," Speaker 10 said, referring to the current teacher-discretion policy. Speaker 10 added that when asked whether they would understand a stricter policy if implemented, about 60% said they would at least understand it.
Board members and staff discussed rollout and implementation. Several trustees emphasized the value of involving students and parents in drafting a policy and suggested contacting neighboring districts (Fort Scott, Chanute, Independence) that have adopted stricter rules to learn best practices. Speaker 10 said the next step is to reconvene the student advisory group in early November to examine feedback and produce draft language the board can review.
No formal policy change was adopted; staff will return with drafted recommendations and further input from students, parents and district administration.
