We the concerned parents of Clarksdale High School petition the CMSD administration to implement a bell to bell cell phone usage policy.  Mississippi law demands phone restrictions, not eradication. SB 2151 guarantees emergency access.  Under SB 2151, a total ban violates state emergency exemptions.  Given our school's history of emergencies, including active shooter threats, bullying crises, and staff misconduct incidents, students must retain access to phones for urgent communication.  Texts were the only way we knew our children was safe during a school shooting and other incidents.  Mississippi law (SB 2151 and HB 818) requires districts to adopt restrictive policies by January 1, 2026 while explicitly allowing emergency use making a total ban legally questionable.  A bell-to-bell pilot program aligns with Mississippi’s push for reasonable restrictions without sacrificing safety.  As members of the Clarksdale High School community, we understand the need to minimize distractions during instructional time. However, we urge you to adopt a plan that prioritize both focus and crisis readiness.  With school resource officers on campus daily, enforcement is feasible. 

The bell to bell cell phone usage policy can ask each parent to pay a one-time fee of $25.  If a child has a cell phone, the parent should be required to sign paperwork accompanied by the $25 one-time fee.  The fee pays for the cell phone lock boxes sold at Amazon to keep in each class.  Students should be required to submit phones upon entry of each class and retrieve them after class.