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Caldwell Parish report: collected phones curb classroom incidents; attendance push for early childhood noted
Summary
Principals reported that collecting student phones at the door in color-coded boxes has sharply reduced incidents and Wi-Fi misuse; superintendent staff also outlined outreach to boost Early Childhood enrollment, which rose from about 67 to an estimated 73 since Christmas.
Principals and school leaders told the Caldwell Parish School Board that a schoolwide practice of collecting students' cell phones at the door has reduced in-class incidents and inappropriate Wi-Fi activity.
One principal described a color-coded box system with assigned numbers for students; the principal said only a handful of infractions occurred since the policy began and offered examples such as an older-model phone and a smartwatch that captured photos. A policy chair praised teachers for setting expectations and noted discipline referrals had been lower than expected.
District IT staff reported reduced inappropriate activity on the Wi-Fi and said Chromebook and laptop preparation is underway ahead of testing windows.
On attendance, the superintendent said Early Childhood enrollment was about 67 before the holiday break, rose to 73 after some returns and could reach 80 by month-end; the district emphasized transportation limitations (pickup points rather than house-to-house service) and urged outreach to parents, employers and community leaders to encourage early enrollment, noting research linking earlier attendance to later academic gains.
No formal policy changes were recorded at the meeting; board members suggested reviewing the phone policy again in May or June if the current approach continues to work.
