Media focus on Oak Harbor’s proposed telecommunication policy is reassuring in one respect, but disturbing in another. The school board does not yet have an official position; that is why we have multiple readings, to investigate policy nuances and potential unintended consequences. KIRO and FOX news crews did not report on Monday’s (Aug. 30) meeting with reasonable context and background; please allow me to correct this omission.
The board must balance four key factors in making a decision:
1. The role of federal law, notably the Fourth Amendment, and student and parent rights;
2. The role of impending state legislation on school district responsibilities and liabilities;
3. The serious threat of cyber bullying to student safety and the learning environment;
4. The productive role cell phones and similar devices can play in our schools.
Cell phones can prove indispensable during bona fide emergencies. Under routine circumstances, they can provide parents with the peace of mind of real-time communication. Telecommunication technology in the classroom can positively engage students during lessons, assist with research, and act as useful tools in project documentation.
It is my fervent wish to avoid a ban on all cell phones and personal media during school; this would be bad for safety, bad for parents and bad for student learning. We also fail, however, if we cannot ensure a safe and effective learning environment. The school board is actively navigating these challenges in search of the proper balance between student safety and constitutionally guaranteed freedoms.
It is reassuring that we can still have this discussion; it is disturbing that most refuse to report on this issue in depth and with the care and consideration that the Oak Harbor School Board is exercising for our community. Please go to www.ohsd.net and click on school board policies, to read the proposals for yourself.
