By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The very first cellular phone hit the market in 1973. High school students were unlikely to use the device that could be used only for talking for up to 30 minutes and required 10 hours of charging. The new cell phone, with Wi-Fi, cameras, games, and music, is a different story. Monday night, the USD 428 Board of Education revealed a new policy for phones in all district schools, but in particular, Great Bend High School. Superintendent Khris Thexton put it succinctly.
"Plain and simple: the phone is not supposed to be out during class," he said. "I've talked to a number of high schools. Passing periods, fine. Lunch, fine. But not during class."
A first offense at the high school means the device will be confiscated and returned to the student after class. The device will be returned to parents or guardians on the second and subsequent offenses, and after-school detention may be required on fourth and subsequent offenses.
"The first two weeks will be rough," Thexton said. "When you're changing a behavior like that, it's going to be hard. I think when the kids get going through that, it's going to make a big difference on their ability to focus."
Policy remains largely unchanged for elementary schools. Devices are to remain off and kept out of sight. A first offense may include confiscation, and a second offense will require a parent or guardian to retrieve the device. The same follows for Great Bend Middle School, where the device is confiscated after one offense and a parent or guardian must pick up the device. Office detentions and in-school suspension are also included on a graded list.
Board Member Deanna Essmiller asked about the application of the new rules to teachers and staff, and Board President Jacquie Disque asked about any conflicts between the employee and student handbooks. Thexton said it will be up to principals to enforce the rules fairly.
"Yes, they're the adult in the classroom but they're going to need to model the behavior," he said. "That's going to be a discussion we have with the principals to start off, that we understand. You have a child that's sick and they're trying to get ahold of you, that kind of thing. But if you're up there scrolling on your phone while they're working on an assignment, there's a difference between an emergency and not."
Chromebooks and other technology provided to students will be sufficient to complete any classroom tasks.