PUEBLO, Colo. (KKTV) – The District 60 School Board is considering changing its cell phone policy to allow phones in the school.
A task force recently provided the board with a recommended policy change, following a year of surveying the community and analyzing studies.
Currently, District 60’s cell phone policy requires students’ phones to be off at all times inside the school and on school buses, except in certain situations.
The school board is looking into letting students have their phones on during passing periods, lunch time and at the beginning and end of the school day.
Last time the board discussed the changes, there was quite a bit of hesitation, so parents are waiting to see what happens.
Parent, Meredith Winston, knows how too much screen time can impact a child.
“It’s almost like an avoidance mechanism sometimes,” said Winston.
The mom would like to see District 60 remain cell phone-free.
“During the passing time or during the lunch times, that could be a source of engagement for students to meet new people,” said Winston.
Winston said she also understands why other parents feel differently.
“Most people are like, I really want to be able to have that direct line of access if there’s an emergency,” said Winston.
Executive Director of Stand for Children Colorado, Krista Spurgin, reminds parents that they can still contact their child when a school has a phone ban.
“The front offices are open; they are available for that phone call,” said Spurgin.
Spurgin acknowledges that change is hard, but said it’s also necessary as technology evolves.
“If you ask students if they want a cell phone ban, the answer is going to be, of course, they don’t. But if you ask students, are they distracted by their phones during learning time? Are they missing out on social interactions because their face is in their phone? The answer is going to be yes,” said Spurgin.
A sentiment shared by Executive Director at Healthier Colorado, Joshua Ewing:
“Cell phones are a distraction, and they lead to challenges in the classroom, less engagement with our peers, and we want to set our young people up for success,” said Ewing.
The recommended policy change was partially influenced by surveying the community.
Winston hopes the board also considers the data that is out there as well.
“An objective reality is what often makes change and is usually most significant for best practice and the development of students,” said Winston.
This conversation was happening around the same time the Denver Public Schools Board voted to ban student phone use inside its schools.
In Southern Colorado, District 11 also has a full bell-to-bell phone ban.
District 20’s policy states that “unless expressly permitted by a teacher for instructional purposes, the use of electronic communication devices within the classroom is not permitted.”
Neither of these districts is looking at changes to their policies.
District 60 said they don’t have a comment on the proposed new policy until the board makes a decision.
The next school board meeting is scheduled for June 23rd, where a second reading of the proposal is expected to happen, and possibly a vote.
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