SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO) — The future of cellphones in the classroom was discussed at a Sioux Falls School Board’s Mid-Year Retreat on Monday, January 27.
A committee of 37 people, put together by the district created a series of surveys that were emailed to middle and high schoolers, parents, teachers, and principals.
Below is a list of all the survey questions from the survey.
20250127KELO174653Download
Tribes issuing free ID cards amid ICE raids
The district’s current policy on cell phones is that cell phone use is not allowed during the academic day at the elementary and middle school with some wiggle room allowed for high schoolers such as during the lunch period.
Assistant Superintendent for the Sioux Falls School District, Jamie Nold, said the committee has had over 10,600 responses to the survey. He added the cell phone discussion mainly pertains to the high school level and the discussions instead of middle and elementary school.
“We have looked at the pros and cons of cell phone use, we looked at some studies and some of that information,” Nold said. ” The ability to take it wherever you go and it follows you wherever you go and should that school area be an area that is free from that.”
Nold says they are looking around at other states to help guide the committee.
“We looked at the toolkit they untallied in Minnesota and it truly went through absolutely no cell phones, to partial depending on when that would be, to full use, we looked at that and we knew we were leaning more towards the no or the partial,” Said Nold.
Another topic discussed was the potential for allowing phones during periods like lunch.
“There has been a leaning of saying no it should not be during the class academic time,” Nold said. “During passing time and during lunch those are the two that seem to be the most discussed.”
Nold said it takes 20 minutes on average to be able to refocus on academics from a student being on their phone.
The surveys need to be completed by January 31st. The council will meet on February 18 to discuss the survey results.
