Killeen ISD to implement phone-free campuses

A Central Texas school district approved a plan on Tuesday night to set up cell phone free zones for all secondary campuses.

KILLEEN, Texas (FOX 44) - A Central Texas school district approved a plan on Tuesday night to set up cell phone free zones for all secondary campuses.

Killeen ISD trustees said it was a step toward eliminating what was termed a constant disruption to the district's learning environment.

“Just ask any educator and they will tell you what a tremendous distraction cell phones have become in schools,” Dr. Susan Buckley, assistant superintendent for Administrative Services, said. “Our academic expectations for students remain high, and yet students can’t focus on their schoolwork because of this device that is competing for their attention.”  

Students will be issued pouches, where they will store their cell phones upon arriving at school. The pouches lock with a device similar to clothing security tags and remain locked until the end of the school day. Killeen ISD students will maintain possession of their phone, and if they need to use it, they must get permission and enter a designated phone zone where they can tap their pouch on an unlocking base.  

“Phone-free schools will allow our students to better concentrate on schoolwork,” Buckley said. “It will encourage face-to-face interactions and the development of interpersonal skills that directly impacts student success, which is the our ultimate goal.”

Background information supplied when the issue first came up stated the plan aims at addressing various behavioral issues such as cyber bullying, vaping, fighting, cheating, poor student engagement and declining academic achievement which many believe are related to cell phone use.

The report points out such things as increased incidents of online harassment and bullying via social media and messaging apps, organization and escalation of fights due to social media conflicts, earlier access to testing information and general lower grades and academic performance because of continuous phone use and distractions.

Buckley cited other school districts which have made the move to phone-free schools, including La Vega ISD in Waco and Richardson ISD. Both found success in recapturing classroom time for academic instruction, improved grades and a drop in discipline issues related to cellphones. 

To prepare for implementation at the start of the 2024-2025 school year in August, the district will submit a request for proposals from vendors to supply pouches to all secondary students. The cost is expected to be about $500,000 to outfit students at the district’s twelve middle schools, six high schools and four specialty campuses.