Board votes to ban cell phones in schools, upsetting parents in the district

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A cell phone ban for West Allis-West Milwaukee schools is now in effect. Administrators say it's the result of too many fights. They're putting part of the blame on students recording fights on their phones.

The board voted to automatically suspend any student caught recording a fight at school and sharing it. The new rule, upsetting some parents who see this as controlling the message more so than stopping the fights.

"It's not so much that we're trying to hide fights. Everybody knows we're struggling with fights in school. What we're trying to do is minimize the disruption to the learning environment," said Dr. Marty Lexmond, West Allis-West Milwaukee schools superintendent.

When punches rang out at Nathan Hale High School in January, phones were also out. We're blurring underage faces, but you can see a trail of students following right alongside the fists, kicks and slaps.

"The systems, the interventions, aren't working for all kids in terms of managing behavior," said Dr. Lexmond.

So, the board agreed to increase disciplinary measures against students who Dr. Lexmond said are "taunting, baiting and egging on a fight."

We asked, "Do you buy what he said?"

The ladies said, "no."

"I'm gonna give you a really good example. The officers that killed George Floyd. Would they have been able to be charged if a bystander wasn't recording on their cell phone?" said Amanda, a mom in the district.

These are the parents of three students who sadly know firsthand about bullying in the district. Sending them to school now without a phone is an uncomfortable feeling.

"It's ridiculous. It's absolutely ridiculous that they are preventing our children from letting us know wrongdoings that are happening in school," said Laura Korth, a mom in the district.

This letter to parents notes the "increase" in altercations, saying these "situations can escalate quickly as other students may be drawn to the commotion."

"If you record a fight, it's a level three to level five disciplinary action, yet the kids who jumped my son and beat his head into the pavement only received a level one. What are you actually trying to stop here? Are you trying to stop the recordings or are you trying to stop the violence because it looks to me like you're trying to stop us from seeing," said Devon Ray, a mom in the district.

And starting April 17, cell phones will not even be permitted by intermediate and high school students during the regular school day.

"They don't want things to get broadcasted. They don't want the bad press," said Amanda.

Although the board agreed to the new policy, they left it open for schools to come up with more individualized plans. That's expected to happen following spring break.