Bexar County’s largest school district is developing a cellphone use policy that will allow students to bring devices on campus this fall but keep them turned off and out of sight during the school day, in compliance with a new state law.
Northside ISD Superintendent John Craft said he’ll present a proposal to the school board Aug. 12, a day after fall classes begin, that will “strike a balance of mutual respect” that lets students carry smartphones and other mobile electronics onto campus, while minimizing classroom distractions and without burdening teachers with the task of handling the devices.
Under the law, which takes effect Aug. 4, exceptions are allowed for students to use the devices with a doctor’s orders, for individualized learning or as part of a campus safety protocol.
Teachers and school administrators have complained for years that cellphones are a hindrance to learning and are sometimes used for bullying, browsing inappropriate materials and even to arrange drug deals and other illegal activities. But parents “would like to know they have that ability to reach out and make contact” with their children, especially when there’s an emergency or a concern about their welfare, Craft said…