KISD board candidates split on school cell phone policy

KILLEEN, Texas (KWTX) – KISD board candidates for place three are divided on the way forward for Yondr pouches, which require college students to lock their cell telephones in the course of the college day, in KISD colleges. Incumbent Oliver Mintz helps their use. Challenger Lan Carter desires them gone.

The election comes after a deadly stabbing at Roy J. Smith Center College. The college requires college students to seal their cell telephones in a Yondr pouch in the course of the college day. Roy J. Smith Center College guardian Renee Calzado mentioned this made it troublesome to achieve her youngsters on the day of the stabbing.

“My concern was those pouches,” Calzado mentioned on the day of the stabbing.

Lan Carter agrees with Calzado. She mentioned the Yondr pouches impede communication between dad and mom and college students throughout emergencies.

“Especially with that tragedy right now, parents are wanting their kids to have access to cell phones because they don’t feel like they were notified in enough time,” Carter mentioned.

Incumbent Oliver Mintz, searching for reelection, mentioned college students don’t must be on their telephones throughout emergencies.

“As soon they left and were safe they were allowed to communicate with their parents,” Mintz mentioned. “So the notion that that somehow impeded communication is just factually incorrect.”

Mintz mentioned the district ought to enhance communication with dad and mom throughout emergencies to keep away from their reliance on their youngsters for data.

“We need to do a better job of making sure parents understand that when we communicate in an emergency, this message is important,” Mintz mentioned.

Carter criticized the effectiveness of the pouches exterior of emergency conditions.

“It was a waste of money,” Carter mentioned. “Kids have already figured out ways to get around the Yondr pouches.”

Mintz argued that lecturers admire the pouches, as they cut back classroom distractions.

“If you don’t put it in a Yondr pouch, they continue to get alerts and notifications, and cell phones continue to be a distraction in class,” Mintz mentioned.

Carter desires to exchange the Yondr pouches with a coverage limiting cellphone use at school.

“I used to work at a neighboring district, and we had no cell phone policy,” Carter mentioned. “My class didn’t use their phones unless I gave them permission.”

Mintz mentioned lecturers shouldn’t have to fret about imposing a cellphone coverage.

“I want my teachers teaching,” Mintz mentioned. “I don’t want them worried about enforcing all these other rules and telling kids to put their phones away and having to monitor all that.”

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