FREDERICKTOWN — Approximately 43% of Fredericktown Middle School staff think cell phone use should be banned during school hours. Fifty percent of high school staff agreed.
The data comes from a district-wide survey sent to staff two weeks ago, Fredericktown Supt. Gary Chapman said at Monday’s board of education meeting.
The district’s current cell phone policy prohibits students from using them while class is in session unless authorized by a teacher or administrator, according to the student handbook. Students can use their cell phone during lunch.
The middle school logged 10 cell phone infractions in the 2023-2024 school; high school logged 17.
A survey asked staff how satisfied they are with the current cell phone policy, revealing that the majority at both schools are ‘somewhat dissatisfied.’
Sixty-one percent of middle school staff say there is a negative impact on students using cell phones during non-instructional time. High school staff agreed with 63.6% saying it has a negative impact.
When asked if changes are made to middle school cell phone policy, 43% of staff say they’d ban cell phone use entirely during school hours. Fifty percent of high school staff agreed.
Approximately 77% of Fredericktown High School staff doesn’t think the current student cell phone policy minimizes distractions. Following the same question, Fredericktown Middle School teachers echoed the high school results with 61.9%.
Thirty-three percent of middle school staff said the policy should “tighten” to “further restrict cell phone use during class time, lunch, and transition times.” Twenty-three percent of high school staff agreed.
Fifty-seven percent of middle school staff say they don’t allow students to use cell phones for education purposes.
Fredericktown’s not alone
At March’s board of education, Danville school administration and board members issued a change in the district’s current cell phone policy.
State House Bill 250 is at Gov. Mike DeWine’s desk awaiting passage, which would allow school districts to have stricter guidelines on cell phone policy.
Chapman asked the board to look at the survey results and come back with a recommendation at the June 27 board meeting–if the board wants to change the current policy.