Southlake schools recommend stricter cell phone policy

Southalke Carroll school officials want to hear from parents, teachers and residents as they recommend stricter enforcement of the student cell phone policy as the district returns to normal amid declining COVID cases. Gordon Butler, assistant superintendent of staff and student services, said the district’s Student Health Advisory Council is recommending consistent enforcement of cell phone use, and told school board members during a special meeting Monday night that the committee wants guidance on consistent enforcement that will take effect when the new school year begins. Before Butler gave his presentation, three parents told trustees that cell phone use is out of hand, and that kids need to get back to “quality” learning.

Christine Johnson said she is concerned about students using their cell phones to cheat, and she does not want to see students distracted in the classroom. “I think we need to get back to real learning where teachers teach and YouTube and Tiktok are weekend entertainment,” she said. Johnson said principals need to give teachers support in enforcing cell phone use. “I as a parent would love to bring back more classical learning with textbooks and bring back that pen and paper,” Johnson said. Butler said the Carroll school district is not anti-technology. The cell phone policy has not been enforced consistently, and it’s time to revisit that and to get recommendations for the next steps. There are other devices students may use in the classroom. “We don’t want to have a distraction to student learning,” Butler said. “Even as adults, you have that digital pacifier right there that you check frequently.” Carroll’s policy doesn’t allow elementary school students to use cell phones during the day, including lunch and recess.