Dear BCSD Families,
I hope you are doing well as we get ready for the start of the 2023-24 school year. I am writing to bring your attention to an important policy change that we may implement in the Blaine County School District this year.
Our administrators and trustees continue to address the mental health crisis affecting our students and seek ways to support their emotional wellbeing and academic growth. The topic of cell phone use during the school day is consistently at the forefront of conversation.
While cell phones and other electronic communication devices offer numerous benefits and opportunities for learning, they also present significant distractions and challenges. We find they hinder the building of connections and healthy relationships between our students.
After significant research and lengthy discussion, the district is considering a policy change to prohibit student cell phone use during the instructional day. By doing so, we aim to create an environment that minimizes distractions while encouraging student focus, engagement, and social interaction. Because the use of cell phones has become increasingly widespread, we believe this decision is in the best interest of our students.
We understand the need for technology in our classrooms, and we recognize that technology devices can be valuable tools for research, communication, and learning. The updates to Policy 942: Responsible Use of District-Provided Technology Resources will not affect student access to technology through use of their district-issued Chromebooks, but will restrict access to district networks from personal devices.
The updates to Policy 518: Electronic Communication Devices outline devices that will be prohibited during the school day, defined as “the official school start time to the end of the day school dismissal, including class periods, passing periods, free periods, lunch periods, recess and assemblies.” The only exception would allow high school students to access their devices during their lunch period. The policy also explains consequences for using devices and how parents and students can communicate during the school day.
We will continue to work with our teachers and technology associates to develop strategies for integrating technology into classrooms and our curriculum in alternate ways as we ensure students have access to the resources necessary for continued academic growth.
The Board of Trustees plans to vote on the potential policy change at its August 8 meeting. We encourage you to reach out to the board with questions, concerns or feedback using the BCSD public comment system.
Should the decision be made to change the existing policy surrounding cell phone use, BCSD administrators and the board will provide detailed guidelines and support to students and families. We understand this could be a difficult transition, but we hope that by establishing new habits, we can create opportunities for students to better connect with one another.
Thank you for your attention to this important update.
Sincerely,
Jim Foudy, Superintendent
I hope you are doing well as we get ready for the start of the 2023-24 school year. I am writing to bring your attention to an important policy change that we may implement in the Blaine County School District this year.
Our administrators and trustees continue to address the mental health crisis affecting our students and seek ways to support their emotional wellbeing and academic growth. The topic of cell phone use during the school day is consistently at the forefront of conversation.
While cell phones and other electronic communication devices offer numerous benefits and opportunities for learning, they also present significant distractions and challenges. We find they hinder the building of connections and healthy relationships between our students.
After significant research and lengthy discussion, the district is considering a policy change to prohibit student cell phone use during the instructional day. By doing so, we aim to create an environment that minimizes distractions while encouraging student focus, engagement, and social interaction. Because the use of cell phones has become increasingly widespread, we believe this decision is in the best interest of our students.
We understand the need for technology in our classrooms, and we recognize that technology devices can be valuable tools for research, communication, and learning. The updates to Policy 942: Responsible Use of District-Provided Technology Resources will not affect student access to technology through use of their district-issued Chromebooks, but will restrict access to district networks from personal devices.
The updates to Policy 518: Electronic Communication Devices outline devices that will be prohibited during the school day, defined as “the official school start time to the end of the day school dismissal, including class periods, passing periods, free periods, lunch periods, recess and assemblies.” The only exception would allow high school students to access their devices during their lunch period. The policy also explains consequences for using devices and how parents and students can communicate during the school day.
We will continue to work with our teachers and technology associates to develop strategies for integrating technology into classrooms and our curriculum in alternate ways as we ensure students have access to the resources necessary for continued academic growth.
The Board of Trustees plans to vote on the potential policy change at its August 8 meeting. We encourage you to reach out to the board with questions, concerns or feedback using the BCSD public comment system.
Should the decision be made to change the existing policy surrounding cell phone use, BCSD administrators and the board will provide detailed guidelines and support to students and families. We understand this could be a difficult transition, but we hope that by establishing new habits, we can create opportunities for students to better connect with one another.
Thank you for your attention to this important update.
Sincerely,
Jim Foudy, Superintendent
Estimadas familias de BCSD:
Espero que estén bien mientras nos preparamos para el comienzo del año escolar 2023-24. Me dirijo a ustedes para comunicarles un importante cambio en la política que implementaríamos este año en el Distrito Escolar del Condado de Blaine.
Nuestros administradores y miembros del consejo directivo siguen ocupándose de la crisis de salud mental que afecta a nuestros estudiantes y buscan formas de contribuir a su bienestar emocional y a su progreso académico. El tema del uso del teléfono celular durante la jornada escolar está constantemente en el centro de las conversaciones.
Si bien los teléfonos celulares y otros dispositivos electrónicos de comunicación ofrecen numerosas ventajas y oportunidades para el aprendizaje, también presentan distracciones y desafíos significativos. Creemos que dificultan la creación de vínculos y relaciones sanas entre nuestros estudiantes.
Después de una profunda investigación y una larga discusión, el distrito está considerando un cambio de política para prohibir que los estudiantes usen el teléfono celular durante la jornada escolar. De este modo, nos proponemos crear un entorno que reduzca al mínimo las distracciones y fomente la concentración, la participación y la interacción social de los estudiantes. Dado que el uso de los teléfonos celulares es cada vez más frecuente, creemos que esta decisión redunda en beneficio de nuestros estudiantes.
Comprendemos la necesidad de la tecnología en nuestras aulas y reconocemos que los dispositivos tecnológicos pueden ser herramientas valiosas para la investigación, la comunicación y el aprendizaje. Las actualizaciones de la Política 942: Uso responsable de los recursos tecnológicos del distrito no afectará al acceso de los estudiantes a la tecnología mediante el uso de Chromebooks entregados por el distrito, pero restringirá el acceso a las redes del distrito desde los dispositivos personales.
Las actualizaciones de la Política 518: Dispositivos de comunicación electrónica describen los dispositivos que estarán prohibidos durante la jornada escolar, que se define como "la hora oficial de comienzo de las clases hasta el final de la jornada escolar, incluidos los periodos de clase, los periodos de cambio de hora, los periodos libres, los periodos de almuerzo, los recreos y las reuniones". La única excepción sería permitir a los estudiantes de secundaria acceder a sus dispositivos durante el periodo de almuerzo. La política también explica las consecuencias del uso de los dispositivos y de qué manera los padres y los estudiantes pueden comunicarse durante la jornada escolar.
Seguiremos trabajando con nuestros maestros y socios de tecnología para desarrollar estrategias de integración de la tecnología en las aulas y en nuestro plan de estudios de forma alternativa, garantizando que los estudiantes tengan acceso a los recursos necesarios para un progreso académico continuo.
El consejo directivo tiene previsto votar el posible cambio de la política en su reunión del 8 de agosto. Los invitamos a comunicarse con la junta si tienen preguntas, inquietudes o comentarios a través del sistema de comentarios públicos del BCSD.
De tomarse la decisión de cambiar la política existente sobre el uso de los teléfonos celulares, los administradores del BCSD y la junta directiva proporcionarán pautas detalladas y apoyo a los estudiantes y las familias. Comprendemos que puede ser una transición difícil, pero esperamos que al establecer nuevos hábitos podamos crear oportunidades para que los estudiantes se relacionen mejor entre sí.
Gracias por prestar atención a esta importante actualización.
Atentamente,
Jim Foudy, superintendente
