Davenport schools are expanding cell phone restrictions with lock boxes and new rules, aiming to boost student focus as classes resume Aug. 25.
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The Davenport Community School District is expanding its student cell phone use restrictions as the new school year begins Monday, Aug. 25.
The change follows legislation signed in the spring by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds that requires schools to restrict personal devices during the school day.
“Cell phones are not going to be allowed — whether students are in or out of the classroom,” said Jon Flynn, the district’s instructional leadership director.
Flynn said schools are receiving lock boxes this year, giving students a secure place to leave their devices. It builds on Davenport’s existing “no cell phone” pilot program.
“Sudlow has a system where students turn them in at the beginning of the day and grab them at the end of the day from the same classroom. Wood has a system in which phones are in their lockers all day. We’re going to allow some of those variances to happen and keep track of data at different schools to see which changes we need to make,” Flynn said.
Teachers who participated in the pilot program have praised the results.
“They commented on the increased engagement they had with their students. The interactions that were happening in the classrooms. Really the general ability to focus on the task at hand,” Flynn said.
“We’re all after providing our students with the best possible education that we can,” he added.
The district said first offenses will result in a phone being taken until the end of the day, with progressive consequences for repeated violations.
District officials said restrictions are focused on middle and high schools, as cell phones are not considered a problem for most elementary students.
