GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) – Recently, the Nebraska Legislature advanced Legislative Bill 140 through a second round of debate, moving closer to enacting a statewide cell phone ban in schools.
LB140 would ban student use of personal electronic devices, such as cell phones, on school grounds. However, it allows school districts considerable flexibility in approving cell phone use under certain circumstances.
Students would be allowed to use cell phones at school in the following situations:
- If required as part of a student’s special education plan
- When authorized by the school district for educational purposes during instructional time
- In cases of emergency or “perceived threat of danger”
- When necessary to monitor or manage a student’s healthcare
- When deemed appropriate by the school board or authorized by a school employee
Jeff Linden, principal of Hastings Senior High School, said they already have a policy in place regarding cell phones.
“We have a policy that basically states, that during in-structural time or during the class period time students will be denied access their phones or any personal electronical device,” said Linden.
He added that if the bill is passed, schools will need to consider its practical implications.
“I think this will have a lot of conversations because it sounds nice in theory,” said Linden. “We will do what we need to do to comply the law because that’s part of what we do, but at the same time we would like more guidance on what this looks like.“
The bill does not apply to private schools. However, Jordan Engle, superintendent of Grand Island Central Catholic Schools, said they support the legislation.
“Any time you see a vote that goes through unicameral without a single decent-grading vote, you know that it’s an idea that most, if not all of Nebraska is going to stand on a majority scale,” said Engle. “I am in favor of this as many people are. I think any time we have a chance to enhance our learning environments in all Nebraska’s schools we should take advantage of that.“
Engle also shared that their school already has a cell phone policy in place.
“The short version of that policy is when classes are in – we don’t use phones,” said Engle. “Nor do we allow cell phone usage during the lunch period because we fell like that’s any important time to interact with one another.“
Other schools in Central Nebraska, such as Grand Island Public Schools, Hastings Catholic Schools, and Kearney Catholic Schools, have also implemented proactive cell phone policies.
If LB 140 is passed, all 245 public school districts in Nebraska will be required to adopt a device-related policy that complies with the law by the start of the 2025-2026 school year.
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