Spokane Schools board of trustees will discuss restrictive new cell phone policy

SPOKANE, Wash - The Spokane Schools board will discuss tonight the new cell phone policy that would keep phones and devices out of kids' hands during the school day.

The policy bans cell phone use in classrooms at all grade levels. High school students could use their phones during lunch and in passing periods. Middle school and elementary students could only use their phones at school before and after school hours.

Every grade level has an exception for "an emergency situation...that involves imminent physical danger" or when an administrator authorizes the use.

The policy sets punishments for offenses, starting with confiscation of the device for the school day and escalating to a parent meeting and disciplinary action.

"Our kids are ingesting social dynamics, bullying, harassment, normalization of violence," said Superintendent Adam Swinyard earlier this summer. "These are things that are having a significant detrimental effect on their childhood experience."

The board will review the policy tonight and the district plans to implement in when school starts in September.

The district is planning an outreach campaign through staff education, a teacher guide and posters on classroom doors.

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