On a recent day at Leesville Road High School, a series of power outages disrupted our schedules. The power flickered unpredictably throughout the school, causing chaos and confusion. But the greatest impact was on those of us who are vulnerable to such sudden changes; multiple students experienced seizures due to the erratic electrical conditions.

As we were dismissed early that day, anxiety formed when we realized we couldn’t contact our parents. You see, outside the school, cell signal blockers made it nearly impossible for us to use our phones. The school’s communication systems were also down due to the power issues, leaving us truly stranded, without the means to alert our families.

We understand that cell signal blockers might be intended to limit distractions and enhance discipline within the school premises. However, this measure becomes dangerously counterproductive when emergencies arise and students are left helpless without a way to connect with the outside world. Communication is more critical in situations like these than ever.

According to the FCC, signal jammers are highly illegal and can be extremely dangerous during times of crisis (https://www.fcc.gov/general/jammer-enforcement). On their website, troubleshooting options are proposed to determine if the cause is the device itself. The fact is: every phone from nearly every cell provider loses connection when coming within approximately half of a mile within the school—not just inside of the building—and troubleshooting options such as disconnecting from the network, toggling airplane mode, and restarting the devices does not solve the problem. 

We propose a reevaluation of the policy surrounding the use of cell signal blockers (if that is the case), at least in areas where it critically affects student safety. Mitigating measures such as emergency phones or designated contact areas within school premises should be established, where students can reach emergency services or parents in times of need. Signal repeaters throughout the school have the potential to be a great compromise between student learning and effective communication.

The welfare and safety of students should always take precedence, and maintaining open channels of communication in emergencies is a vital part of this responsibility. We urge the Leesville Road High School administration and all relevant authorities to act swiftly to address these issues and ensure a safer environment for every student.

Sign this petition to support the removal of cell signal blockers from around Leesville Road High School, and to help make our school safer.