Photo: Catherine McQueen / Moment / Getty Images
(Des Moines, IA) -- The Des Moines School Board is considering a district-wide phone ban, similar to what other districts in the metro are using. The idea was discussed at Tuesday's board meeting. Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts says staff thinks there's a need.
"There is a healthy appetite from the adults in our buildings that we would benefit from doing something," Dr. Roberts says. "To make sure that we have a significant reduction in students' screen time."
State Auditor Rob Sand spoke as a parent in support of the idea.
"I hear from so many teachers on this subject who just want to teach and want their students to learn," Sand says. "With the phones in the classroom all day long, it becomes something that is incredibly distracting. I've heard from a lot of teachers who say 'I feel like I'm speaking to an empty room sometimes.'"
Parents who oppose the bans have questioned how they would get ahold of their kids. Annie Brandt, who has kids that go to a DMPS school testing the policy, says it was a quick process for her.
"My kids have actually enjoyed handing their phones in," Brandt says. "They feel less time is spent in class with teachers telling kids to get off their phones. My kids have not complained once about not having their phones, and the one time I did need to reach my child I called the office and she called back within five minutes."
So, while the consensus at Tuesday's meeting was generally in favor, a point of concern was timing of implementation. Board Member Patrick Dix is in favor of speeding through the process.
"I'm having trouble with why would we wait one day to do this?" Dix says. "I have looked all over the place and I cannot find an instance where there is a story or some focus on a district that has put this into place and the outcome hasn't been good."
But Dr. Roberts says he wants to wait until there's more data from the district's test schools.
"I can say with confidence that the district will be ready to tackle this at the beginning of next school year," Dr. Roberts says. "But I will not at this point, because we do not have enough data, make a commitment for a second semester implementation."
The board tabled the idea, and asked the district administration to present a written policy to be discussed at the next meeting on November 26th.