Gianforte keeps pressure on schools to adopt cell phone crack downs

(The Center Square) – Gov. Greg Gianforte continues to promote his idea of cell phone free schools.

The governor has a 56-county tour to discuss cell phone free policies and paid a visit Wednesday to Superior Schools.

Gianforte views cellphones as a distraction in schools.

“Last month, I was glad to send a letter to schools across Montana to ask them to consider removing the distractions created by cell phones in a learning environment,” said the governor during his stop in Superior. "Studies and data point to the urgent need to act to ensure our students can thrive and I am encouraged to see Superior Schools taking a step in the right direction.”

The letter was sent to district superintendents and trustees across the state. Pointing to studies and data on cell hones, the governor wrote that “Ninety-seven percent of 11- to 17-year-olds use their cell phone during school, including to text, access social media, play games, and watch videos.”

Gianforte added that students also receive dozens of notifications on their smartphones during school hours.

“As I talk with educators and parents throughout our state, they often tell me about the negative impacts of cell phones in the learning environment,” wrote the governor. “Nationally, and in Montana, we see academic performance declining and rates of mental health disorders, from anxiety and depression to eating disorders among young people increasing.”

While in Superior School District, Gianforte met with the superintendent and teachers and listened to the district’s “cell phone off-and away policy.” Adopted in 2005, the policy was amended nearly a decade later to try to limit distractions for students.

“We make exceptions for the students who need it,” said Superintendent Allan Labbe told the governor. “As we are working to prioritize safety and security with new measures for evacuations, lockdowns, and holds, we are working to align our plan for limited cell phone use with our safety plan."