(IdahoEdNews.org) POCATELLO The trustees of Pocatello/Chubbuck School had a regular board meeting on Wednesday and authorized additional limitations on students’ usage of cellphones.
After months of deliberation and public feedback gathering, the decision was made.
The following modifications are part of the recently authorized Pocatello/Chubbuck policy:
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Cellphones and other personal electronic devices are not allowed during the school day.
They must be turned off, out of sight and stored in a locker, backpack, bag or vehicle. Occasionally, teachers may permit the use of cellphones and other devices for academic purposes.
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High school students may use their cellphones during their lunch period.
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Middle school students may not wear smart watches:
Elementary and high school students can wear smartwatches if they are off, or in school mode. Trustees determined that smart watches would be inappropriate for middle school students because they are more tech savvy than their elementary peers, but less mature than high school students, so would be more likely to circumvent the policy.
A policy adjustment that requires student cellphone offenses to resume at the start of each school year rather than every trimester was also approved by the trustees.
Although it is already illegal to use cellphones in class, district authorities claim that different schools have applied the rule differently. The new policy will require all institutions to follow the reforms consistently.
Following the passage of a new law mandating that school districts enact more stringent cell phone regulations, as well as pressure from Governor Brad Little and State Superintendent Debbie Critchfield, school districts throughout the state are doing just that.
Concerns about the detrimental effects of cellphone use have also led to an increase in cellphone bans and limits across. However, according to Neal Morton of The Hechinger Report, research is starting to indicate that school cellphone bans are insufficient to undo the technology’s obvious negative effects.
Previous reports on the Pocatello cellphone policy discussions:
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Pocatello will pilot online high school this fall; trustees discuss cellphone policy
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Pocatello/Chubbuck trustees discuss cellphone policy, but defer decision to another day
Relevant reading:
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CDA trustees keep all-day cell phone ban despite student, community protest
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Kids are talking together: Students adjust to Vallivue s new electronics policy
On June 18, 2025, this item was first published on IdahoEdNews.org.
