This petition began circulating on 10/1/2024.  As of 10/31/24 there are 1116 signatures.  Thank you for your support!

Dear Shawnee Mission School District Board of Education members,

We are parents, educators, teachers, students, and other community members that are dedicated to the future of SMSD. The goal of this petition is to show broad support and enthusiasm for the school board to create a clear and reasonable policy addressing phones and other personal communication devices in our K-12 schools and to address this issue with urgency.  

Phones present an opportunity and challenge in our society and our schools. This technology allows communication, connection, medical support, and unique ways to learn about the world. At the same time, phones interrupt attention, learning, and inclusion. They negatively impact social and emotional development, attendance, test scores and much more. Teachers are struggling to compete with these devices and their enticing qualities. We need to create clear policies to support the success of the teachers and students that we care about so deeply.

We realize that there are concerns about implementing policies addressing cellphone use in schools. There are rare exceptions in which a student requires a personal device for medical reasons and we can still support these students on an individual basis. Parents may have concerns about not having immediate access to their children during an emergency. We cannot ignore the reality that broad access to phones can exacerbate rather than alleviate the threat to our children in an emergency. Classrooms full of students on phones in the middle of an active emergency creates a chaotic environment opposite that which is required to follow instructions and keep students safe.  

Let's give our kids a gift. Give them access to full school days without the distractions that come from personal electronic devices. Let them build connections by looking into the eyes of their peers and their teachers. Alleviate loneliness and anxiety. We want to work together to put a policy in place that will support the growth and success of students.

We, undersigned, call on the Shawnee Mission School District Board of Education to create a clear and reasonable policy addressing phones and other personal electronic devices. We are enthusiastic about discussing this topic further and working collaboratively to address any concerns brought by the board or greater SMSD community.  

Thank you for your attention to this important matter and we look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

Diana Dewey

Leslie Smith

Allison Brimblecom

If you would like to join our email list to stay up-to-date on this issue and get involved, please fill out the form below! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd_poqrb5gR-rMYXJdkND1jXeUdokAYkVftMI8bb48s6-Vh7Q/viewform?usp=sf_link