KSHB 41 reporter Olivia Acree covers portions of Johnson County, Kansas, including Olathe and Lenexa. Share your story idea with Olivia.
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Kansas schools are preparing for a major change as a new statewide cellphone ban becomes law, leaving parents and educators with questions about how it will be enforced.
Gov. Laura Kelly signed the bell-to-bell cellphone ban on March 17. It’ll be up to school districts to decide how to enforce the ban — whether students keep phones in lockers, backpacks, their cars, etc.
Kelly said the ban should remove distractions, protect children's mental health and create a better environment for teachers.
School districts have until September to put new policies in place. Parents hope part of that conversation will outline how schools will communicate with them if their students cannot use their phones.
"I have mixed emotions due to the fact of just the state of the country and safety," said Johnson County parent Samantha Bashaw. "It's concerning as a parent because you want to make sure that your child has a way of reaching you if they need you."
I asked the Shawnee Mission School District last week where they stand on the new policy.
"At this point, we are uncertain as to how we will comply with the law and at what cost to our finances and our instructional time," the district said. "We will begin having discussions with our principals and staff and seek guidance from the Kansas State Department of Education."
The district also said it is disappointed in the outcome of the bill. SMSD has previously said education decisions should be made by local school boards, not the state.
Clinical therapist Melanie Arroyo said the ban aligns with Kelly’s goal of reducing distractions and improving mental health, but only if implemented the right way.
"We have gotten very creative with how we reward students who study, who behave well," Arroyo said. "How about we implement something similar to when it comes to keeping away their phones?"
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