Out of Sight

By MARC STEWART

Staff Writer

Cellphones and other personal electronic devices probably won’t be banned from the classroom anytime soon.

The Coeur d’Alene School Board directed staff to make revisions to the district’s current policy — created three years ago — that allows high school students to bring their own devices to school to be used with their teachers’ permission for specific education purposes.

The biggest change: High school students would now be required to turn off their cellphones and personal electronic devices in the classroom and keep them out of sight of their teachers.

“We need to be teaching students digital citizenry,” said Coeur d’Alene School District Board Trustee Lisa May. “But let’s create a policy that is enforceable. Are we prepared for that? I would hate to see it crash and burn.”

The new “Out of Sight” rules aim to clarify when and where cellphones are allowed, as well as what’s appropriate useage. For example, students would be allowed to use their phones at lunch and during breaks between classes. Educators would still have the option to confiscate a device if it was being used inappropriately or in violation of the district’s rules.

The updated policies and procedures are expected to be on the Coeur d’Alene School District website today or tomorrow. The district will be seeking feedback from the public. The proposed changes to the policies, which focus on high school students, are expected to be voted on at the February school board meeting.

Monday’s school board meeting discussion over cellphones was red hot. Coeur d’Alene School District Board Trustee Dave Eubanks led the charge to ban them from the classroom, likening them to a narcotic drug that should be eliminated.

“They’re a distraction,” said Eubanks. “We owe it to the teachers to take a stand on this subject.”

Eubanks also alleged that some students are using their smartphones to cheat in the classroom. He said the proof of cheating is right in front of the district’s faces.

“They’re getting A’s and when they take the standardized tests then they bomb,” he said.

Board Trustee Tambra Pickford took exception to the characterization and fired back at Eubanks.

“My daughter gets A’s and she works hard,” said Pickford. “She busts her butt and her grades are not because of a cellphone.”

Eubanks said his 43 years in the classroom gives him a perspective that cellphones are being misused and then he demonstrated to the rest of the board how easily a student could cheat with an electronic device without the teacher noticing.

“The kids laugh about it,” said Eubanks. “Not every student is cheating, but we shouldn’t make it easy for them. They’re doing it under the table and it’s hard to detect. If the cellphone is not in their possession, the problem is solved.”

Pickford then pointed out that if they banned cellphones some students would find a way to cheat.

Tom Hearn, a board trustee, also supported banning cellphones from the classroom.

“The policy needs to be easier on the teacher,” said Hearn. “We’re doing the teachers a favor by creating a solid policy.”

With three board members in favor of modifying the rules, Board Chair Casey Morrisoe focused on enforcement. He said whatever the new rules will be, they need to be supported by teachers and staff at the schools across the district.

“We need uniform enforcement,” said Morrisroe. “Without it, it probably won’t work.”