Future of Cell Phones in KC Schools Discussed, School year 25-26 Student Handbooks Passed in Special Voting Meeting

By Christopher Miller

BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP – Discussion continued Thursday evening as a Special Voting Meeting was called to review and vote on changes to the student handbooks for the upcoming school year only days away.

Though passed and approved with one vote against the measure, the board also discussed the future of cell phones in schools and the wearing of hoods and hats within district-owned buildings.

Introduced August 7 by school board member Chris Scaff and discussed in depth by multiple board members, the word “expectations” was updated to “rules” and was changed throughout all handbooks.

Board members then went on to discuss the current cell phone policy for all schools and discussed what may be the future of phones in schools.

“What are we doing about cell phones? Why didn’t we discuss this a month or so ago,” asked board member Chris Scaff. “What will we do with this issue in the future?”

Superintendent Dr. Frank Redmon replied, explaining that cell phones are not allowed in the elementary school and not allowed during the school day in the middle school.

“They are currently allowed in the high school and students can use them in the hallways outside of class unless if the teacher gives them permission to be used during class time as part of the lesson,” Redmon said. “The consequences of using a phone any other time can be found in the current handbooks, including the removal of a phone from a classroom and it being sent to the main office for a parent to pick up after the school day.”

Scaff mentioned that he spoke with numerous people about the issue of cell phones in schools, adding that it seemed to be pretty “50-50” with parents both for and against.

“I agree with Butch that we should have a no cell phone policy but I think the only nice thing about having students having phones would be if something were to happen like a fight, the student can dial 911 to the Communications Center, where the dispatcher on the other end can request a video call with a student and the dispatcher could see what is happening in real-time,” Scaff said.

“For safety that is a good thing and can provide bonafide proof that something is wrong and can provide multiple angles of what is happening if a kid calls in.”

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Randy Zangara spoke up, adding that the current cell phone policy carries four tiers of offenses if a student is misusing a phone during school time.

“If the policies were followed to a “T” there would be no issue. The problem is with the kids being in the classroom with a hood on. I am concerned about a hood being over someones head with earbuds in while the teacher is trying to teach. And kids now have the iWatch and can communicate through that, possible sharing test answers with others, etc.,” Butch said. “Our rules and offenses must be carried out in a firm and consistent way.”

“If it were up to me they would be banned and locked away to not use them at all and I think the state is leaning this way and hopefully they do it soon, they (phones) are more of a distraction especially if Teacher A doesn’t allow a phone to be used in class, but Teacher B does,” he added.

“I hold steadfast that no hoods or hats should be allowed to be up or on in the buildings.”

Board member Dr. William Baldino added his share to the mix, saying that there are more “potential negatives” for having hones on students during the day than any other positive benefit.”

Scaff ended, saying that there already is a rule about no hoods or hats are to be worn in the buildings and he agrees 100% with that.

“We need to enforce the rules across the board and we need to be the ones to set the example, beginning with no phones at our board meetings, and teachers need to set the examples in their classrooms to not use their own phones during class.”

Dr. Baldino was the single “no” vote against the matter of passing and approving the student handbooks.

Board member Tom Cannon was absent from Thursdays meeting.