Carroll ISD makes changes to student cell phone policy

During a special board meeting on Aug. 5, Carroll ISD board members voted unanimously to make changes to the student code of conduct regarding the district’s cell phone policy.

The details

In his synopsis of the proposed changes to the district’s student code of conduct, Assistant Superintendent for Administration Brian Nickel said that staff would remove the language that allowed seventh and eighth graders the ability to use their cell phones during school hours for “specific academic tasks.” Nickel added that the devices issued by the district would suffice for those purposes, so the statement about cell phone usage could be removed from the student code of conduct.

Board President Cameron Bryan pointed out that cell phone policy changes have been in the news as of late with several neighboring districts also making changes to their policies for the 2024-25 school year. Bryan reminded those attending the meeting that the current school board passed the district’s cell phone policy at this time last year.

Bryan then outlined the specifics of the policy as follows:

• Kindergarten through sixth grade: No electronic devices are allowed during school hours, before or after school on campuses
• Seventh and eighth grades: Electronic devices only allowed on campuses before and after school, not during school hours, including passing periods and lunch
• Ninth through 12th grades: Electronic devices not to be accessed in class, but can be used in passing periods, during lunch, before and after school on campuses

Quote of note

“We have passed a restrictive cell phone policy in this district,” Bryan said. “This board is 1,000% behind any teacher enforcing this cell phone policy.”