Wallenpaupack administrators: Strict new phone policy going well

A new cell phone policy is in place in Wallenpaupack schools, strictly regulating use of the nearly ubiquitous device during school hours. Building administrators report that the procedure is going well.

Jim Kane, principal at the middle school, told the board at the Sept. 9 meeting, "We really need to get our students back into focus of what is really important, that is their education. It's been going great. I have not had issues with parents and/or students. Our students have been very understanding and supportive of this new procedure."

Kane continued, "I have not seen any phones around the building, which is really amazing." Asking the students how they were reacting, Kane said a few felt "really anxious, they were worried about it how it was going to go. Then they realized… none of their peers were on their phones. So, they weren't posting to someone on social media, they weren't missing something that was happening as texts were going back and forth. They didn't feel the need to check their phones because all of their peers were in the same boat."

Without the cell phones in use, Kane said the chatter in the cafeteria is "a little bit louder" which he said was a good thing as students return to interacting with each other rather than have their heads down working their phones.

In an email, Superintendent Keith Gunuskey said that the new procedure means that from kindergarten through eighth grade, students are not allowed to have their cell phones on during the school day.

"Students may carry their cell phones; however, they are not to be used at any point during the day," Gunuskey said.

At the high school, students are prohibited from having their cell phones out during instructional time in the classroom. "This effort is to help re-focus our students on the primary reason they are in school- to receive a solid education," Gunuskey said. "Cell phones have proven to be a disruption to the educational process and these measures are being taken to limit the distractions for our students."

Previously, he said that cell phones were allowed with teacher permission and could be used during lunch and study halls.

Peter Becker has worked at the Tri-County Independent or its predecessor publications since 1994. Reach him at pbecker@tricountyindependent.com or 570-253-3055 ext. 1588.

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Wallenpaupack administrators: Strict new phone policy going well