WSD: No sudden changes to cell phone policy

Washougal School District (WSD) leaders say they will focus on enforcing the district’s existing cell-phone policy rather than make any sudden changes, such as banning students from having cell phones available to them during the school day.

The Washougal School Board “is still gathering information” about the use of cell phones in school buildings and has not made “an active proposal to make a change,” according to Les Brown, the district’s director of communications and technology.

“I expect that the board will continue this discussion in the next few board meetings, with a goal of hearing from school staff and students, as well, before they make any changes to the policy,” WSD Interim Superintendent Aaron Hansen said. “Input from all stakeholders will help ensure that any policy adjustments reflect the needs of our community and support a positive learning environment. We are committed to a thorough and thoughtful review process before making any decisions.”

During the Washougal School Board’s Aug. 27 meeting, Board member Jim Cooper called for a workshop to discuss WSD policy 3245, which states that “telecommunications devices will be turned on and operated only before and after the regular school day and during the student’s lunch break, unless an emergency situation exists that involves imminent physical danger or a school administrator authorizes the student to use the device.”

“Research is coming out more and more on how impactful distractions are in the learning process, and how (phones are) having not only a social emotional impact on kids, but an academic impact,” Cooper said. “We could wait until the state passes a law or give us guidance, or we could lead. Our kids are the ones that are important to me, and I think it’s worth having an agenda discussion.”

School leaders are continuing to use the existing set of rules outlined in board policy 3245, which already asks students to limit cell phone use in most situations on campus, Brown said.

Hansen said during the Board’s Sept. 24 meeting that he didn’t see much cell phone use during visits to two Washougal schools earlier in the month.

“I was at the high school last week for a couple hours, and I did not see cell phones in classrooms,” he said. “The week before, I was at Jemtegaard Middle School, I did not see cell phones in classrooms. Earlier today, I was at the high school around lunchtime, and I didn’t see very many cell phones out (in the cafeteria). I believe that, anecdotally, this is different from what I’ve seen previously. I believe that our focus and our expectations and how they have been communicated are resulting in students not having phones in classrooms.”

Hansen added that the district’s principals “have been pleased with the response of students and staff to messages that emphasize all students participating in learning activities and not allowing cell phones to disrupt the classroom.”

“(Jemtegaard Principal David) Cooke had sent me a picture of a poster that was made, thanking students for adhering to the expectations,” Hansen said during the Sept. 24 meeting. “What we believe is, by reducing the use of cell phones, we’re reducing distractions that can disrupt learning. This is a very positive start.”

Each Washougal school includes rules for cell phone and electronic devices as part of their student handbooks shared with students and their families at the start of each school year, according to Brown.

“This year, school staff and leadership have emphasized the importance of keeping cell phones put away and turned off so they don’t disrupt the learning environment,” Brown added. “This includes signage in hallways, parent-guardian messages and creating classroom expectations that include not using cell phones during class.”

Sadie McKenzie, who was elected as Board president at the start of the Sept. 24 meeting, said students are responding to those messages and to incentives for following the district’s cell-phone policy.

“I was at Jemtegaard on Friday, and Mr. Cooke gave (the students) a long recess in celebration of following the rules,” McKenzie said. “I noticed there were a few kids with their cell phones out, but the majority were playing and goofing around. I feel like they were being rewarded for non-cell phone use. They had a break (when they) were allowed to do it, but they still weren’t on their cell phones. I think that they’re just realizing that there’s other things out there, too, and they don’t have to be on their phones. (Our efforts have) made a positive impact. I’m excited.”

Cooper agreed with McKenzie, although he added he’s adopting a wait-and-see approach.

“I think the proof is kind of in the pudding,” Cooper said. “We’ll see whether our student learning improves with better enforcement of the existing policy. I think we’re on the right track. I think it would make sense to have consistency among the different schools so somebody whose kid goes to Gause (Elementary School) isn’t having a different implementation or set of expectations than her neighbor’s kid who happens to be across the street and goes to Hathaway (Elementary School).”

Hansen said that each school building has its own set of protocols around cell phone use that are tailored around the district policy.

“We have specific policies and procedures that are identified by statute that are in the (district) handbook, and each building, based on their expectations and the staff, (have their own policies). That level of autonomy, I believe, as a former building principal, is important,” Cooper said. “It also matters what the grade level is — high school versus elementary versus middle.

“But our desire is to make sure that there’s consistency, not only because a student might go from one school to the next, but also just as a community. We are one community. If there’s a best-practice that we’ve identified, why would we not use that in each one of our buildings? The same goes for classrooms. That’s where we sometimes see inconsistencies with follow-through, with specific expectations. The more that there’s consistency in communicating, coaching, teaching and enforcing, that really is helpful. There isn’t a question from one classroom to the next for students.”

Hansen said he expects to hear from the Board’s student representatives about cell phone use later this fall, and hopes to receive parent feedback as well.

“I think we’ll keep it as an open discussion as we move through the year,” Hansen said. “I think this might be something our building administrators bring up in their presentations. But we believe this is something that can impact the culture of a building in a positive way.”