Cell phone usage reviewed at GFW School Board meeting

by Doug Hanson
Superintendent Kelly Smith reminded the GFW School Board about the cell phone policy that the District has in place. The policy was sent out to parents last fall.
The policy basically states the cell phone and other technology other than the school’s chromebooks should be left in the locker—the out of site out of mind theory. Director George Grosam mentioned that last year the students were okay if they kept the cell phone in their pocket. But it was pointed out that doesn’t follow the policy.
Director Emilee Stehr asked if a student needed to contact their parent could they used their chromebook to reach out. Wade Werner, Directory of Technology, stated that if a student tries to email someone with a different domain than gfwschools.org, it will not work. Basically that student will need to go through the office to get a hold of their parent. The older students have some limited access to places for college, etc.
Director Mark Turtle asked if that included Apple watches. Werner replied the policy says other electronic devices.
Last year the District was a little bit gracious, allowing kids to use their own devices. Werner stated that only a very small percentage used their own devices. But with their devices there are opportunities to do things that are outside what the school has control over, which Werner stated the District can not allow. He added it opens the door for a lot of things.
“If it gets to a point that smart watches are becoming an issue we would have to have the students turn them in and pick they up at the end of the day.”
During Jennifer Thompson’s elementary school report, she motioned that two college students, one from Spain and one from El Salvador, will be staying with host families and working with the Immersion Program in kindergarten and first grade. The pair wants to learn more about education in the United States.
Prior to the start of the meeting, vice chairman Kenneth Briese asked for a moment of silence for GFW Bus Driver Richard Hellendrung, who recently passed away.
Superintendent Smith noted that a $24,000 grant was received for the Immersion Program. He also stated that the District is working on a grant with MnDOT for better highway access and walk ways to the school.
The consent agenda included the resignation of Gabriel Skaria, high school business teacher and Janelle Plaetz, middle school/high school special education teacher. Teacher contracts were approved for Jason McNamara (BA20, Step 5) as the new elementary physical education teacher at $50,878 and Annie Pomplun, (BA, Step 2) as the elementary special education teacher at $45,734. As of August 19, the District was still looking to hire two teachers.