Cell phones restricted at East Union

AFTON - Abiding by changes in Iowa state law, East Union has restricted cell phone use during instructional time.

East Union approved the adoption of their student cell phone policy during their monthly board meeting Monday.

Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law April 30 which required schools to adopt policies restricting student use of personal electronic devices, mostly aimed at cell phones.

The definition of a personal electronic device includes cell phones, smart watches or other wearable devices which can send messages, laptops, tablets, video game devices, portable media players or applications or programs installed by a student on school-issued devices.

Some exceptions will be made for personal electronic devices at East Union. Any school-issued devices used for instructional purposes, such as desktop computers, laptops, Chromebooks, iPads or tablets can be used as long as they are provided by the district.

These personal electronic devices do not include any device which is used for documented legal, health or safety purposes. Parents or guardians of a student can petition to allow their child to maintain access for a legitimate reason, such as for physical or mental health. Students with an individualized education plan are also exempt as documented in the plan.

“We have a couple of students that are diabetic,” Secondary Principal Jason Riley said. “They have the implant and it’s tied to their phone. So their phone is their alert system. They would obviously be able to keep theirs during the day.”

During instructional time, students’ personal electronic devices must be securely stored in their personal lockers. This means students can still use their devices during passing periods and during breakfast and lunch hours.

Riley said school districts had two major options in adopting the cell phone policy. The choice involved whether students would have access to their phones outside of instructional time or would be completely restricted for the full school day. East Union went with the lighter restriction.

“A significant number of schools made the choice to say, they will not have access to their phones from the beginning of the school day to the end,” Riley said. “I talked to staff members, and we went the route of not having access; they can’t use or possess them during instruction.”

Students who violate the policy will receive penalties. For the first offense, the student will surrender the device to school officials and it will be returned at the end of the school day. For the second offense, the student will surrender the device and it will only be returned to the student’s verified parent or guardian.

For the third or any subsequent offense, the student will check their device in to the office at the beginning of the day and will have to check it out at the end of the day.

Students who use their devices during assessments will be required to retake the assessment. If the assessment is state- or federally-mandated, the school will follow state or federal protocols.

Personal electronic devices could be used for instructional purposes if the educator obtains approval from the school principal for the use of the device for a specific learning activity as documented in a lesson plan or course outline.

East Union students have been notified of the incoming change, but Riley also said the law and implementation will be a quick turnaround. Comparing the implementation to last year’s absenteeism changes, he said it might be a learning curve.

“The first semester is going to be rough, just like our attendance was,” Riley said. “First semester, they had to figure it out. Second semester, they’ve done with what we expect.”

Worries were limited when judging the full student body’s capability to adapt to the new policy.

“Typically, whenever we have issues with something like this, it’s limited to about a dozen kids out of the 200 plus we have in the building,” Riley said. “We have great kids. 90% of our kids will do exactly what we ask them to do.”

Board President Adam Tallmon asked if teachers might struggle with adapting to the policy. Riley said the expectation is the same for teachers to limit their phone usage to outside of instructional time as well. Teachers will need their phones on their person in order to respond to potential emergencies.

Riley reflected on the speed of which cell phones became a problem in schooling.

“It’s crazy to think of how quickly this has become a problem,” Riley said. “When you think of 15 years ago, cell phones wasn’t that big of an issue. But now all of a sudden they’re making laws to stop it.”

In other East Union school board news...

An update for the East Union Early Childhood Center and Infant Toddler Center funding was given to the board by ECC Director Peggy Hardy. The ECC is working on various grants to furnish the ITC, with one grant of $13,723 already awarded from the South Central Iowa Community Foundation for outdoor playground equipment.

Yet funding from the state through the new Continuum of Care grant will most likely not be available. There will be no state replacement available to the ECC which will cover the $75,000 Wrap Around grant funding.

Additionally, Shared Visions grants are still not available for application, listed online as “delayed” and “to be determined.” Hardy noted the parent support section of the grant was removed to fund the Continuum of Care grants, although this was not a feature East Union has utilized in the past.

These continued delays have set a worrying mood; Hardy said she felt anxious about the lack of transparency.

“This is very late,” Hardy said. “It’s never been this late.”

Additionally, despite the continuum of care bill not being signed in this year’s legislation session (the bill did not pass the House), grant applications have opened, confusing Hardy. Even if the bill did pass, the program should not have opened until 2026.

To make up for the loss of $75,000, the ECC will have to look for other areas to recuperate. These include additional grants, fundraisers, financial policies (such as a holding fee for infant spots, family discounts removal, increasing tuition annually), asking families to fill out child care assistance forms and increasing enrollment at both centers.

An unpaid sabbatical leave for Kaitlyn Miller was approved, providing an exception to East Union’s policy. Certified personnel become eligible to request a one-year leave without pay after completing five years of service in the district. The board moved on the recommendation of Superintendent Tim Kuehl, who vouched for her commitment and work with the district.

An affirmative action plan was approved on the annual routine, with a few changes. The school commits to hiring based on applicants qualifications while encouraging an inclusive applicant pool which does not discriminate based on race or national origin.

Curriculum purchases were made for grades K-5. About $19,480 of Title I funding and $11,399.17 of general curriculum funds will be heading to these curricular materials through Really Great Reading and Curriculum Associates.

Chromebooks which have reached the end of their life will be disposed. These devices will be responsibly recycled. Staff will be given the opportunity to keep their assigned Chromebook as a gesture of appreciation.

East Union’s transportation fleet received a couple board approvals. The fleet will be used for summer school. One district bus will receive a transmission replacement for a cost of $11,400.

Board members Amber Tate and Carol Eckels were absent from Monday’s meeting.

The following resignations and contracts were approved.

Resignations: Barbara Tomas, food service cook; Stephanie Auten, elementary para; Ashley Mitchell, elementary para; Alyssa Love, elementary para.

Contracts: Stacey Cass, elementary para; Tess Cochran, concessions purchasing agent, concessions manager; Rebecca Thummel, district administrative assistant; Debbie Aldrich, prom sponsor; Allison Cheers, prom sponsor; Mia Williams, junior high softball coach.