What you need to know
Under the new policy, MISD students can bring their cellphone to campus, but they will need to be turned off and remain “away for the day in backpacks, lockers or vehicles” while students are on school property, according to an Aug. 1 news release from the district.
In emergency or urgent situations, parents and guardians should contact school offices—where staff will relay messages to students and allow students to contact parents, if needed—according to the release. Students who violate the policy could face:
- Parental notification
- Phone confiscation
- Detention
MISD provides each student with a district-issued device, which can be used for any curriculum that requires technology, according to an Aug. 1 email with a district spokesperson.
How we got here
Under previous district policy, student cellphones were considered “an extension of the classroom” and could be used to complete classwork, according to the MISD spokesperson.
This spring, MISD leaders listened to teachers, parents and students, and determined cellphones have contributed to “challenges in MISD,” Superintendent Mark Ruffin said via the release.
“Cellphones create a distraction that hinders student learning and academic performance, negatively impacts student discipline, leads to instances of academic dishonesty, and unfortunately provides opportunities for cyberbullying,” Ruffin said.
Also of note
During an Aug. 6 discussion of the new cellphone policy, multiple MISD trustees expressed concerns about parents receiving communications about canceled after-school practices. Ruffin said he has discussed the changes with coaches to avoid potential issues.
