Here's how Columbia principals plan to limit students' cellphone use next year

Principals of CPS high schools and middle schools on Monday presented a unified effort to the Columbia Board of Education in the form of cellphone procedures to be in place for the 2024-25 school year.

New student cellphone rules for 2024-25

The procedure for middle schools is more restrictive than that for high schools. In middle schools, cellphones and smart devices will be prohibited in the classroom learning environment, hallways, restrooms and locker room from 7:25 a.m. to 2:35 p.m., the entire school day.

For high schools, cellphones and smart devices would be prohibited in learning environments but permitted in halls during passing periods and during lunch.

"We expect them to be a little more grown-up," said Helen Porter, CPS chief schools officer, about high school students.

"It is purely about access to education for all students in the district," said Adam Taylor, CPS executive director of secondary education.

It's unfair for teachers to have to be the enforcers, said Suzette Waters, school board president.

"We've been putting it on teachers to mitigate the situation and they're exhausted," Waters said.

It must be a partnership with the teaching staff and administrators, Taylor said.

Parents also must be willing participants, said school board member Blake Willoughby.

"It's going to take our parents and families to help us establish healthy use of cellphones," Willoughby said.

The message will be communicated in several ways, the principals said. The methods include school newsletters on school and the district websites and at end of school year and beginning of school year meetings.

"It's going to be early and often," Porter said of the message.

Columbia teachers union President Noelle Gilzow brought up the problem early in the school year and it also became a campaign issue in the school board election in April.

"It seems our desire for a consistent cell phone policy was heard," Gilzow said during her comment time at the meeting.

During public comment, Hickman High School teacher Susanne Sawyer called for a no-tolerance cellphone rule.

"The issue is pervasive in every class and we are exhausted," Sawyer said.

The principals must see it through, said Superintendent Brian Yearwood.

"I know there will be bugs," Yearwood said. "There will be successes and failures. As superintendent, I ask you to stay the course. Be consistent."

Attendance area boundaries

Karen Jackson, with district consultant Wolpert, presented preliminary results from surveys about options for elementary, middle school and high school attendance areas.

The changes will take place in 2025-26 and 2026-27.

Option 4 was the most popular option among those who responded, Jackson said, with 37% disliking it. What she called a "clean feeder system" appealed to many, referring to the elementary schools to middle schools to high schools.

In contrast, option 3 had the least support, with around 60% disliking it. Complaints included the requirement that students cross major highways and walking proximity to schools.

A refined two or three option will be finalized to present to the school board in June, Jackson said.

Waters asked if it might be possible to keep high school boundaries the same.

"High schools are going to be crowded no matter what option is chosen," Waters said.

Willoughby said the district may need to reconsider its decision not to build an additional high school in the future.

Chapter 100

The school board voted unanimously to direct Waters to vote in favor of a Chapter 100 tax relief request from Kraft Heinz. The taxing entities of the county will meet May 21 to vote on the proposal.

Kraft Heinz in Columbia employs 447 with a payroll of $28.5 million. The workers at the plant make all the Oscar Mayer hot dogs in the nation, said Matt Williams, with Regional Economic Development Inc. Incentives Subcommittee.

Kraft Heinz plans to invest $92 million in its Columbia plant over the next five years to "decarbonize" the production toward a goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

It also has the option of moving hot dog production to another facility that already has the equipment in place, Williams aid.

The company is seeking 75% property tax abatement on new equipment, but not on any of the facility and infrastructure, Williams said.

According to REDI analysis, even with a 75% forgiveness, CPS still would receive $1.1 million in tax revenue from the plant, with the city receiving $76,000.

Most Chapter 100 proposals add employees, but not this one, Waters said.

"The goal with this project is to maintain those employees," Waters said.

The Daniel Boone Regional Library board takes up the proposal on Thursday.

If the taxing entities approve the proposal, it will go to the Boone County Commission, where it will draw up an agreement and vote on it.

School board listening sessions

The school board will begin a plan to hold periodic listening sessions with one from 6 to 7:30 p.m. May 29 at Battle High School. The idea is to give residents another options for voicing their opinions on any issue they want, said school board member April Ferrao.

The listening sessions will take place four times a year and just some school board members will be at each one, with members rotating. The location also will rotate.

"We're going to try it out," said board president Suzette Waters.

Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on X at @rmckinney9.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Here's how Columbia principals are changing student cellphone policy