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Highland teacher urges board to adopt full high‑school cellphone ban
Summary
A Highland High teacher told the board the district's current partial device restrictions are ineffective, citing district 2024 survey results (over 85% of students use phones in class) and research linking device removal to improved outcomes; the comment came during the request‑to‑speak period before S‑11 policy action.
Brett Reidelch, a Highland High teacher and former digital learning coach, urged the board Aug. 4 to adopt a full cellphone ban in the district's high schools rather than the partial approach in proposed board policy S‑11. Reidelch cited the district's 2024 survey showing "over 85 percent" of high‑school students use their phones during class, and he said teachers report frequent classroom disruptions and a lack of administrative support for enforcement.
"Teachers frequently faced violations with little to no administrative support, direction, or equitable consequences," Reidelch said, arguing that the status quo "puts teachers in an unfair and impossible situation." He recommended the board institute a complete ban for high schools, saying existing data and research demonstrate benefits to attention and performance.
The board heard the comment in the public‑comment portion; the S‑11 policy remained on the agenda and public speakers were asked to submit questions and comments for staff follow‑up.
