Spokane Public Schools plans to change phone policy for all schools in upcoming year

SPOKANE, Wash. - In the upcoming school year, the sound of phones will be minimized at Spokane Public Schools.

The Spokane School Board made recommendations to adjust the district's cell phone policy Wednesday. They recommend extremely limiting the use of cell phones in all schools.

The district already plans to implement these changes in the upcoming school year.

"It's probably not going to be one thing that is going to solve the challenges we're facing, but we can make incremental steps as a community," said Adam Swinyard, the superintendent of Spokane Public Schools. "This is an incremental step, setting boundaries in our schools around cell phones."

Superintendent Swinyard said it's time to address the issues stemming from student phone usage.

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

Those issues, according to Swinyard, are playing a role in how our students learn in school.

The proposed changes include not allowing phones in elementary schools during the school day, only allowing middle school students to use devices during lunch periods, and allowing high school students to use the device during passing time and lunch.

Many community members agree with the new policy, including parents in the district.

"I think that it's gotten a little out of control, to be totally honest," said Bree Campana, a parent.

Some people are concerned about what would happen in the case of an emergency.

Spokane Public Schools said it acknowledges that concern and said these cell phones will remain on students during the day. The new policy is aimed at trying to encourage better habits.

"The teacher is going to work with administrators to provide warnings, give kids a chance to acclimate and course correct," Swinyard said when asked about disciplinary actions.

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