Northern California school district bans cell phones in classrooms

(FOX40.COM) — A school district in Northern California is stirring up controversy as it prepares to implement a ‘no phone’ policy in its classrooms.

Beginning this school year, the Lincoln Unified School District in Stockton will no longer tolerate student cell phone usage during class hours. It said the purpose is to create a learning environment, free from distractions such as social media, text messages, and other recreational notifications.

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“Practically every student comes to school with a phone. We have students as young as kindergarten who have cell phones at school,” said Lincoln Unified School District superintendent Kelly Dextraze. “We’re going to take this step to decrease the amount of distraction that comes as a result of cell phone use during school.”

When students come to class, they will be required to power off their electronic devices and place them into a secure pouch which will not be in their possession. Once the class is over, students will regain access to their phones. This goes grades K-12.

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“I feel good about it. I think everyone is feeling good about it and we’ve had very positive responses from families teachers who requested that we implement this policy,” Dextraze said.

Although the new policy may have a lot of support, some parents don’t think it’s the right move.

“I know it’s a distraction for some kids. But what happens in case of emergencies?” said Lincoln High School parent Cookie Caldwell.

Caldwell has a son who will be a freshman at Lincoln High School this year and said she would rather have direct contact with him.

“I like that the kids will be able to focus now. And we’ll see how that happens or if it will help,” Caldwell said. “But I don’t think it’s going to stick. I’m going to be honest. I just don’t think it’s going to stick.”

For on-campus emergencies, LUSD said it has a safety plan and a messaging system to get urgent information to parents. In the case of an off-campus family emergency – they ask families to call the office to reach the student in class.

In addition, the district says students whose phones are used as a medical device and have it documented in their health plan are exceptions to the rule.

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