JASPER — Governor Sarah Huckabee-Sanders is offering schools a way to remove students' cell phones from the classroom. The governor said last July 2 a program will give money to Arkansas schools if they use pouches for students to store their phones in during the day.
According to the company which is marketing the Yondr pouch, when students get to school, they have to lock their phone (and smartwatch, AirPods, etc.) in the pouch. They get to keep it with them throughout the day. When they leave for the day, they unlock the pouch by pressing it against a device stationed near the exit. In case of emergency, they can go to the school office to get it unlocked.
Jasper School District Superintendent Dr. Candra Brasel said she did not want to accept the funding for the pouches until she received input from both staff members and students' parents. Also, each of the district's school buildings have differing policies in place regarding student access to their cell phones.
Brasel shared the results from the staff and parent surveys with the school board members at their Aug. 19 meeting.
Staff Cell Phone Survey results (43 responses):
How often do you notice students being contacted by their parents via cell phone while they are at school?
Daily - 39.5%
Sometimes - 51.2%
Rarely - 9.3%
Never -
As a staff member, are you concerned about student use of their phone while at school?
Yes - 81.4%
No - 18.6%
Have you noticed students accessing data, exchanging text messages, etc., rather than. B ring engaged in learning activities during class time?
Yes - 67.4%
No - 32.6%
Should students be able to access/use their cell phones at school?
Yes -
No - 18.6%
In certain situations - 76.7%
If you answered "Yes" or "certain situations" to the question above, at what times should students be able to access/use their phones?
Transportation to/from school - 79.1%
Before school - 86%
Hallways/transitions from classes: 37.2%
During class time - 2.3%
Lunch - 62.8%
Study hall - 4.7%
After school - 93%
Has a student ever reported to you that they were being bullied via text, photo, video, and/or social media?
Yes - 23.3%
No - 65.1 %
Unsure - 11.6%
Would you as a staff member, be supportive of Jasper School District adopting a more comprehensive cell phone policy which could potentially restrict cell phones by students during school hours?
Yes - 79.1%
No - 20.9%
Parent Cell Phone Survey results (111 responses):
What grade level is your child for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year?
7th grade - 21.6%
8th grade - 20.7%
9th grade - 9%
10th grade - 17.1%
11th grade - 13.5%
12th grade - 18%
As a parent/guardian, are you concerned about your child's use of their phone at school?
Yes - 34.2%
No - 65.8%
If your child brings their phone to school, are you concerned they may be accessing data, exchanging text messages, etc., rather than being engaged in learning activities during class time?
Yes -38.7%
No - 61.3%
Should students be able to access/use their cell phones at school?
Yes - 13.5%
No - 13.5%
In certain situations -73%
If you answered "Yes" or "certain situations" to the question above, at what times should students be able to access/use their phones?
Transportation to/from school - 86.5%
Before school - 78.4%
Hallways/transitions from classes: 39.6%
During class time - 2.7%
Lunch - 73.9%
Study hall 19.8%
After school - 94.6%
Has your child ever reported to you that they were being bullied via text, photo, video, and/or social media on their cell phone?
Yes - 17.1%
No - 62.2 %
Unsure - 20.7%
Would you as a parent/guardian, be supportive of Jasper School District adopting a more comprehensive cell phone policy which could potentially restrict cell phones by students during school hours?
Yes - 58.6%
No - 41.4%
Accompanying the results were lists of comments received by staff and parents.
Brasel also read to the board the policies in place at each school building.
"I hate to turn down the money for the pouches," Brasel said. "Right now, I want to collect the data, let them (school campuses) try what they are trying."
At the end of the year everyone can come together and determine if a uniform policy is needed for the district as a whole, Brasel concluded.
