School Cell Phone Regulation Discussed
By Jessica Wald
Cell phone and smart watch devices will have a new location for the school day starting for the second semester in Napoleon.
The Napoleon Public School Board met last Monday, December 9, when Superintendent Rich Bjerklie presented a possible regulation on students’ use of cell phones and smart devices during school days. Board members present included Vice-president Tori Gross, who led the meeting, along with Derrick Leier, Corey Schumacher, Shawn Puklich and HS Principal Chad Berger, while President Taylor Grunefelder and Elem. Principal Whitney Weigel were absent.
Bjerklie and Berger said cell phones and smart devices are being used more and more, and sometimes being a distraction throughout classrooms (K-12). They asked the board if they should move forward on checking if they could put a regulation in place, starting the second semester, after Christmas break. The duo said after checking with other schools, some options would be; don’t allow any cell phone/smart watch/devices in the building; don’t allow the devices during class time; only allow the devices before and after school; and more. They also said if they decide devices are allowed during the school day, they could have regulations that they need to be in lockers during class time or in pouches/baskets in the classroom they are in.
The board discussed how each year, the devices will become more of a problem, as more and more. . .