No cell phone policy to greet students Wednesday in White Salmon
By Ken Park
White Salmon, Wash., Aug. 26, 2024 — As some Washington students prepare to return to school on Wednesday, Aug. 28, the White Salmon Valley School District has announced a significant policy change: a near-total ban on cell phone use during school hours.
The new "No Cell Phone School Day" policy, which applies to most students in the district, was outlined in a statement released by Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn on August 19.
"While cell phones and personal electronic devices have a certain utility in our lives, current research shows that their use during school hours can, and often does, distract from and disrupt student learning," Polkinghorn explained.
Polkinghorn emphasized that the decision was driven by concerns about the negative impact of excessive screen time on students, including issues such as anxiety, disruptive behavior, sleep disturbances, and reduced attention spans.
Polkinghorn said that the primary goal of the policy is to enhance student learning and foster a healthier, more positive school environment.
"The basic purpose is part of our efforts to continually optimize student learning and promote a healthy, positive environment for everyone at school," he stated.
He also noted that the policy would be closely monitored and adjusted as necessary.
This new policy will be strictly enforced at Hulan L. Whitson Elementary, Wallace & Priscilla Stevenson Intermediate, and Wayne M. Henkle Middle Schools, where students will be prohibited from using cell phones or personal devices during the school day. Students who need a phone for safety reasons will be required to keep it turned off and stored in their locker or turned into the school office.
At Columbia High School, the policy will be implemented differently.
While the current rules mandate that students keep their phones off during class, they are allowed to carry them. However, the district aims to move towards a completely cell phone-free environment throughout the entire school day.
"CHS staff will work with students and families to create guidelines and a plan to become a cell phone-free environment throughout the entire school day," Polkinghorn said. "CHS staff will work with students and families to create guidelines and a plan to become a cell phone-free environment throughout the entire school day," Polkinghorn said.
He expressed confidence that this approach would improve student health, well-being, and engagement.
As for how this policy will be enforced, Polkinghorn said the district will lean on parents to enforce the policy if a student is caught with their phone in class or is reluctant to give it up.
"We don't want to get involved in a power struggle over cell phones, but if it does happen, that will be a phone call to the parents to come get the phone or the student if need be," he explained.
Though school has not yet started, the policy has been well-received by parents and staff, though the opinion of students has yet to be spoken.
He expressed confidence that this approach would improve student health, well-being, and engagement.
The new policy aligns with broader discussions on cell phone use in schools across the country.
In June, the Los Angeles Unified School District garnered attention when it announced a no-cell phone policy set to take effect in January. Additionally, several states, including Washington and Oregon, are exploring legislation to empower school districts to regulate cell phone use.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has expressed her support for a statewide approach, arguing that a consistent policy across districts would prevent confusion. A bipartisan group of Oregon lawmakers is currently working on legislation to address the issue, while in Washington State, a bill directing school districts to implement cell phone restrictions has advanced out of the House Education Committee but has not yet made further progress.
As the White Salmon Valley School District embarks on this new chapter, the community will be watching closely to see how the policy unfolds and its impact on student learning and well-being.
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