Since the school board of Mesa Verde Middle School implemented its total ban on personal electronic use during ALL parts of the school day at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, students have been feeling negative effects. After talking to multiple students, I have found that many are unable to do things that they previously did during lunch, and want electronic devices to be allowed during lunch, within reason. This was permitted in past years and has only changed for this school year.

Additionally, the policy unreasonably targets headphones, which are now banned outside anywhere on the campus. I've had multiple staff members approach me for wearing headphones when the library is closed (which is frequent at the beginning and end of the school year) while just trying to relax. This policy was also not present in past years.

If things don't change, students will continue to be denied basic freedoms that they should have and learn how to use going into high school. The rule could also be considered by high schools as well, which would be even more disastrous than in middle schools. The "changes" that some teachers report is only due to increased enforcement, as the rules in classrooms barely changed.

Personally, I was always excited to get my first smartphone, and this is part of what motivated me to succeed in middle school. Me and many other students feel like we've received the short end of the stick with this policy that we didn't consent to.

I wrote a Google review for the school detailing my complaints about the school in general (I don't know if it will appear yet).

The school board should revert the policy back to what it was in previous years: phone use is not allowed in classrooms without the teacher's permission, but is permitted within reason (no pictures, sensitive content etc.) during lunch, passing periods, and after school.

Contact those in charge: powayusd.com/apps/pages/board-of-education-members