Recent confusion over changes to the AHS cell phone policy have resulted in clarification of the school board’s procedure for reviewing and updating protocol. In regards to the cell phone policy the last revision was in 2019. The process to stay up to date includes a five year revolution so that policies are regularly seen.
High School Principal Heather McKay clarified the following regarding the process. “I know the Iowa Association of School Boards sends superintendents and boards suggestions of new policies or ways to review policies based on guidance they receive from the state. From there, the potential revisions are given to a board to review. What I have witnessed in the past is a board can have a first and second reading. If a board feels as though they are already in agreement, part of a motion can be to waive the second reading. Anytime something is presented to the board, they have a discussion, a motion is made and then the motion is voted on through a roll call vote.”
The school board is working towards a more efficient way of revising policies. McKay said, “I believe it was at the February board meeting when Dr. Johnsen and Lisa Jones discussed with the board about hiring a company that would improve how board policies were housed and reviewed.”
A company named SIMBLI is a program the school board is looking into. The SIMBLI mission “is helping boards lead and govern effectively and operate efficiently.” It is a software management website that allows for easy use and simplifies tasks. McKay said, “We’re also working on organizing our board policies more efficiently, and in the next few months, you’ll see an updated and more accessible version on our school website…Many other school districts in Iowa also use SIMBLI for organizing their policies.”
Concerning the cell phone policy McKay said, “As far as a building, a couple of years ago, we reviewed the practice and consistency within Atlantic High School for the cell phone policy. We actually did not make an extensive change to what was in the student handbook and rather made more of an agreement as the educators in the building that we would consistently adhere to as it was written.” McKay added that any changes proposed to the Student Handbook are voted on every summer. She said, “These are after a review has been done by the building administration and the building leadership team.”
Soon after the January School Board meeting the Atlantic New Telegraph reported on the change. This was the first external source to provide information to the public regarding the proposed cell phone policy. Journalism instructor Allison Berryhill found this piece and brought it to her second period journalism class.
She said, “I saw the story in the Atlantic News Telegraph. It quoted Mrs. McLean as asking to hear from parents and teachers. When I read the article, I realized our district was defining instructional time as 8 AM to 313. That same day I asked Mr. Mitchell about it. He told me no, our current policy would not change, and that students would still have access during the school day between classes and during lunch. At this point, I brought the story to the AHS journalists. It seemed like a topic that would have impact on students, and yet the school board president and high school administration were saying two different things. The editors wanted to clarify the situation and invited Mrs. McLean to come in for an interview.”
The initial meeting with School Board President Laura McLean was held on January 28th, a Tuesday two weeks before the next board meeting. This meeting was held under the impression that there will be three hearings of the new policy. At the time there had already been two, in December and January. Journalism students met with McLean to acquire information regarding the new proposed cell phone policy. The new policy will not allow students to have their cell phones through the entire school day. The current policy grants students the passing and lunch periods as permitted cell phone time.
As mentioned in the original Proposed Cell Phone Policy story, McLean worries about children’s development while McKay feels that the current policy is sufficient to the needs of children. McKay follows the current policy herself and said, “I have noticed significant changes for myself just by following [the policy]. My productivity has improved because it’s a choice to not be on my phone.” McLean said, “I’ve done a lot of reading about it, that cell phones are harmful to kids’ development.”
However with differing opinions, a miscommunication occurred. McLean confused school board policy procedure with city clerk protocol and believed that the school board does three hearings; however, only two are needed. Therefore the new cell phone policy had already been passed. Due to the inaccuracy of information AHS Needle Lead Editors, Anna Potts and J. Molina sent out a statement to acknowledge the situation.
Another School Board member, Gini Jordan reached out to the AHS Needle. She gave her input as a new member and where she felt confusion stemmed from. Jordan said, “I went back and listened to the discussion of the Dec. 11 board meeting where the first reading of the policy was initially brought up. Actual policy was visible to board members but not in the public agenda. Policy was last reviewed in 2019 and unchanged since 2011. Dr. Johnsen noted that this policy 503.09 was exactly what MS and HS were currently doing. We voted to approve the 1st reading. Laura McLean asked that it be made visible to the public so they could make comments if wanted. Based on that discussion, it was my understanding (and stated) that policies at the Middle School and High School wouldn’t have to change. Laura commented that she wanted feedback from anyone who felt strongly about it.”
Jordan added, “if everyone at the meetings was hearing what I heard, I figured we could approve the policy and then change it to fit our needs. I do not know if other board members understood the proposal. I was under the impression there would just be two readings. However, Laura sent out an article to the board about what to think about as we change cell phone policy and that came on February 4th. If we had had a third reading, I guess I wouldn’t have been surprised.”
Journalists reached out to Mrs. McKay and Superintendent Dr Beth. Johnsen for an update meeting. Potts sent email correspondence regarding the situation. An interview was scheduled for the morning of February 17th. Unfortunately Johnsen was unable to attend this meeting. However, AHS Needle was still able to interview McKay. Here she clarified her thoughts on the miscommunication. McKay said, “the other administrators remember both Mr. Mitchell and I saying at the same time we feel that what we have in the handbook already meets what the intention is of what the IASB…is trying to implement.” She likes the process that we have now called gradual release. This is the idea that kindergarten through fifth are not allowed phones, sixth through eighth are allowed to use phones before and after school, while the highschool is granted lunch and passing periods.
On Monday the 24th, a final meeting was held with Dr. Johnsen, McKay, Berryhill, Molina, and Potts. The objective of the meeting was to find clarity in communicating from school board to administration to staff to students and to community. Johnsen shared her thoughts on the policy and helped navigate a solution.
Johnsen believes there should be value found in researching why the IASB is promoting this. She asks, “why are the governor’s legislatures really pushing this?” Johnsen believes that the state has done research behind this and found good reason to push for change.
The solution that all parties came to an agreement on was– to have monthly updates of what the board is planning and how it directly impacts students and staff at Atlantic High School. This would be conducted through an interview process with McKay as well as attending or watching the livestream of the board meetings. This way information can come directly from the source as a whole. Updates will be posted on the school news website.
