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Parents tell KCKPS board proposed phone policy and ParentSquare raise privacy, trust concerns
Summary
Parents urged the board to reconsider a policy that would make student phones inaccessible during the school day and questioned ParentSquare as a district‑controlled alternative, citing FERPA concerns and the ability of parents to communicate directly with children.
Several parents used public comment on Aug. 11 to oppose a proposed student cell‑phone policy and to question ParentSquare, a district‑managed messaging platform being rolled out for family communications.
Talia Enox, a parent of six district students, told the board that trust—not policy—must be earned. "Trust is not something you can require by policy. Trust is something you earn," she said, adding that the U.S. Department of Education previously found district policies that raised federal concerns about parental access to education records. Enox said she worries that ParentSquare's visibility for the district could restrict private communication between parents and children and asked who can read messages and what gets flagged.
Superintendent Dr. Anna Stubblefield responded during announcements that ParentSquare onboarding is underway and that the district will use the platform for one‑way and administrative communications, enrollment confirmations, forms and real‑time updates. She said board members will receive invitations and that staff will continue to provide information to families as the system is implemented.
Board members asked staff to provide details on ParentSquare's privacy/oversight controls and to follow up with parents who raised concerns.
