---

Cell phone and computer use policies in classrooms in the Iowa City Community School District may face changes in the coming months, as the board has begun debating a possible cell phone ban.

The discussion began after the district received feedback from the community regarding the use of cell phones and artificial intelligence in schools. Iowa City School Board first discussed politics on July 23, 2024. Since then, the board has dug deeper into the policy while providing additional feedback at recent meetings.

So far, the district and board have discussed removing cell phones from classrooms while locking down what can be accessed on school computers. The board recognized the need for flexibility with students who have unique circumstances, such as safety or special needs, rather than a holistic approach.

To hear the community’s thoughts on cell phones in the classroom, the district has begun distributing surveys to administrators, staff and families. The surveys, which will provide new insight to the district, were sent out in August and will run until October, according to the meeting documents.

Iowa City Community School District Board Vice President Molly Abraham said the district’s current policy states that students should not have phones outside while an instructor is teaching.

However, Abraham said the school district and board are trying to change the current policy to ensure teachers don’t have to spend time telling students to remove their phones or put them away.

“As a teacher, it’s just ridiculous to keep saying, ‘Hang up.’ It interrupts instruction. It hurts relationships,” Abraham said.

Many teachers have voiced their objections to cellphones in classrooms, while some students and parents believe cellphones are necessary in classrooms, Abraham said.

“It’s going to be really important to get buy-in from parents and kids about why they need to be off their phones during instructional time, and we need to figure out how,” Abraham said.

Other high schools across the country, like some Los Angeles schoolsbegins implementing new policies regarding cell phones and other technology, according to The Wall Street Journal.

In Iowa, some high schools also have cell phone policies. According to Axios Des Moinesa group of Des Moines public school parents is pushing for a district-wide cell phone ban after Hoover, East and Lincoln high schools in the metro area banned cell phones and headphones.

Des Moines metro high schools require cellphones and other devices to be kept in students’ bags during class — not in pockets or on desks.

FAMILY: The Iowa City school district votes to demolish the former Hills Elementary School building

Many parents, teachers and experts believe cell phones increase students’ anxiety and fatigue, while causing them to struggle with face-to-face interactions, according to Axios. In addition, they believe that cell phones in classrooms are major distractions.

Iowa City Community School District board member Lisa Williams spoke about the importance of synchronous, unstructured play for children at an Aug. 27 board meeting.

“We make sure our kids are outside of having recess … and how important that is to their learning,” Williams said. “And not just their social-emotional development, but just how they’re going to develop as little creatures into adults who have this play.”

Ruthina Malone, president of the Iowa City Community School District’s school board, shared the community’s concerns about the district’s proposed timeline at the Aug. 27 board meeting. The proposed date to present recommendations for changes to the board is Oct. 29, according to meeting minutes.

“I’ve heard from a handful of parents and middle school students and high school students, and the running theme I’ve heard recently is complaints about our timeline,” Malone said.

Malone said at the last meeting that middle school students in particular feel that starting a new policy in the middle of the school year doesn’t seem like the most beneficial option. The community believes that starting the new policy at the beginning of the school year will make the transition easier.

The school district and board will continue to conduct more research while hearing from neighboring districts in the coming months before changing any policies or practices.

In a statement to families and district staff, Iowa City Community School District Superintendent Matt Degner wrote to the district about the potential policy.

“We value the input of our entire community and look forward to working together to develop policies that best support our students’ learning and well-being,” Degner said in the statement. “Your participation in surveys and meetings will be critical in helping us understand different perspectives and needs.”