Iowa City school board approves new cellphone policy

IOWA CITY — The Iowa City school board voted 5-2 Tuesday to approve a new cellphone policy that will require phones, earbuds and headphones to be “detached from the student’s body” during instructional time.

The policy will require students’ phones to be silenced and placed in a backpack, purse, hanging pouch in the classroom, or in a student’s assigned locker during class.

Student non-compliance with the policy will be handled by a school’s main office administrators.

Students, staff and families will receive information on the new policy this month. In January, schools will educate students through advisory lessons on the updated policy before the policy is implemented at all middle and high schools Jan. 21, 2025.

The Iowa City Community School District began reviewing its cellphone, technology and artificial intelligence policies over the summer and underwent a book study of the “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt, which argues that the rise of smartphones has led to a rise in mental illness.

Earlier this year, a survey was given to district administrators, students, staff and parents to gather additional feedback.

Policy protects instructional time

The two board members that voted against the policy — Lisa Williams and Mitch Lingo — felt that the policy protected instructional time but didn’t do enough to limit the presence of cellphones at school.

“I think that this policy sends a message to our students and parents that phones have a place at school, and I, just to my core, believe that they do not,” said Williams.

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While the rest of the board agreed with the majority of what Williams expressed, they said the proposed policy was a good start and that it may evolve with time.

“I do think we need to take it in steps so that not only can our students and our families adjust, but allow our administrators and teachers that opportunity and not to weigh on them additional work and additional stress,” said Board President Ruthina Malone.

What are the specifics of the policy?

According to Iowa City school board documents, the success of the personal device policy will be measured by the following metrics:

Students will be allowed to wear smartwatches during the school day, but if the watch is distracting in class, teachers will follow a sequence of consequences detailed in the policy.

At the middle schools, students can use cellphones during passing time between classes and during their lunch period.

In high school, students can use cellphones during passing time between classes, during their lunch period, any open hours where they don’t have class and during study hall.

However, high school students on an open hour cannot use cellphones in the hallway during class time until they’ve reached a designated area within the school where cellphones can be used.

If a cellphone, earbuds or headphones are seen, heard or in use during instructional time, teachers will contact the office via email. The office will send a staff member to the classroom to confiscate the phone, earbuds or headphones. The confiscated device will be held in the main office until the end of the school day, according to the policy.

If a student refuses to give up their device, the student will be removed from the classroom and taken to the main office. If the student continues to refuse, the administrator will call the student’s family and there may be additional consequences.

Consequences for violating the policy compound if a student violates the policy more than once.

If a student violates the policy, their device is confiscated for the day. They sign a documentation sheet to receive their device at the end of the day and acknowledge their violation of the policy.

For a third offense, additionally, the student’s parent or guardian is contacted. A fourth offense results in a meeting with the student’s parent or guardian. If there is a fifth offense, a “technology plan” will be created with the student’s parent or guardian.

Any student who videotapes a fight or “disruption,” or actively encourages inappropriate behaviors, will be subject to disciplinary consequences, according to the policy.

Exceptions to the policy

Exceptions to the policy include if a cellphone is:

Grace King of The Gazette contributed to this report.

Comments: megan.woolard@thegazette.com