West Fargo Public Schools bans cellphone use in classrooms

By Wendy Reuer | West Fargo Pioneer

WEST FARGO — West Fargo students will no longer be allowed to use their cellphones during class.

Like Fargo and Moorhead, rules for cellphones in the classroom varied in West Fargo schools, allowing teacher discretion to decide the extent that cellphones could be present. But last week, West Fargo

Public Schools sent a message to students and parents with an update to its universal student handbook.

The handbook now outlines a policy that says cellphones and other electronic devices must be out of sight and not in use during classes.

“Cell phones must be out-of-sight and out-of-use from the first bell to the last bell of all classes, including during study halls and within flexed learning spaces that are an extension of a classroom,” the policy states. “Cell phones may be used appropriately and respectfully in common spaces during noninstructional times, including passing time, the student lunch period, and before and after school.”

Assistant Superintendent Vincent Williams said the change in policy has been welcomed by teachers and administrators, and he did not hear any initial complaints from parents.

“Teachers are very happy,” West

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Fargo School Board Member Jim Jonas said Monday, Aug. 8.

District Spokeswoman Heather Leas said the district office had not heard from any parents that objected to the rule change.

In Fargo, Communications Director AnnMarie Campell said each high school has its own handbook outlining a policy for electronics in the classroom. Davies High School, North High School and South High School have nearly identical policies in their handbooks, which say the devices should not be used in classrooms but can be allowed for educational purposes as advised by teachers.

Fargo’s universal middle school student handbook explicitly defines the students’ responsibility to respectfully use devices and says they can be allowed in the classroom by teachers.

In Moorhead, the high school handbook states devices “may be used during passing time or in classrooms with teacher permission, or in the commons during study time. In accordance with FERPA, students are not allowed to video or capture images in a classroom without the knowledge and permission of the classroom teacher.”

West Fargo’s policy states that a cellphone or electronic device such as smartwatch, tablet or laptop can be confiscated from students if they violate the policy. Use of personal devices is still allowed between classes or in common areas.

“The first time a phone is delivered to the Main Office due to an infraction of this policy, it will be returned to the learner at the end of their instructional day. Further violations of this policy will result in additional consequences including, but not limited to, requiring phones to be turned into the Main Office for a predetermined number of days, requiring the family to pick up the cell phone, and family meetings,” the policy said.

Readers can reach West Fargo editor Wendy Reuer at wreuer@forumcomm.com or 701-241-5530. Follow her on Twitter @ ForumWendy.