Murphy – Cherokee County Schools may restrict students from using mobile devices on school grounds.
The board of education, at its Jan. 18 meeting, put off re-approving a mostly intact policy, Use of Wireless Communications Devices, that has allowed students to have mobile devices with certain restrictions.
But at the request of school board member Steve Coleman, approval of the policy was postponed after he argued that there is “no positive side to keeping them,” referring to student-carried mobile devices.
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Coleman said studies he has seen show that restricting mobile devices on campus improves education by keeping students focused and improves security by preventing a flurry of cell phone use by students during a campus emergency.
“I don’t think there is a study that says cell phones help education,” Coleman said.
In anticipation of blowback from parents who want to reach their children by cell phone during school hours, “Parents can call the office if they need to reach their child,” Coleman said.
Approval of the policy was postponed but it was not up for consideration at the February meeting. Meanwhile, the old policy remains in effect.
The policy provides for school administrators to allow students to use cell phones “if it is determined there is a reasonable need for such communication” and can use the devices for educational purposes if they are supervised.
A major force driving on-campus cell phone use is parents, who want to be able to reach their children without having to go through the office phone line. In an age of active school shootings, being able to reach a child at school takes on added significance.
The board directed Superintendent Keevin Woody to review the policy with school administrators and come back with a report. School board member Arnold Mathews suggested Woody survey faculty, while member James Ellis suggested Woody get feedback from teachers and principals.