KILLEEN, Texas — Killeen ISD is moving to a phone-free zone for the 2024-2025 school year. Middle and high school students will be required to keep cell phones in a locked pouch.
The cost for this is expected to be $500,000. It's covering students at the district's 12 middle schools, six high schools and four specialty campuses.
They are using federal funds, not local funds, according to Killeen ISD Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services Dr. Susan Buckley.
Under this plan, students at all secondary campuses will have to place their devices in a locked pouch when they get to school.
While students keep their phone on them, it will stay locked until the end of the day.
"It has a sensor tag similar to the clothing sensors," Dr. Buckley said. "It has a pin and it locks shut."
If they need to use their device, they must get permission and enter a designated phone zone where they can tap their pouch on a high-powered magnet device.
"Those devices would be installed on the walls at all the exits," Dr. Buckley said.
The decision comes after Dr. Buckley started tacking phone calls from parents with concerns.
"In calls district wide through elementary, middle and high school, we kept seeing a reoccurring pattern of phone use fighting videos, videos of of all types of things, text messaging and bullying," Dr. Buckley told 6 News.
Tiffany Roy teaches in the classroom and sees how students get distracted firsthand.
"They are also using their devices to meet each other in the restrooms at certain times to do activities that they shouldn't as far as vaping," Roy said.
She believes this change will help cut down on disruptive behavior.
"I purchased their cell phones, I pay the bills, but I do not send them to school to be on their devices," Roy said. "I send them to school to learn. Education is the key to success and once we can rise above be on one accord make the same decision, I really feel like our children in the next generation coming forth will be amazing. Just remember how amazing we were as kids when we didn't have cell phones."
Other parents are pushing back on the decision. Some are worried about communicating with their children in case of an emergency.
"We as educators, we always give you contact information," Roy said. "Some educators are okay with you having our cell phone numbers."
Others are wondering how something like this can be enforced.
"We're going to work on procedures and consequences for violating it," Dr. Buckley said.
There's lots of unknowns right now, but school officials hope students and parents can adjust to the change.
Dr. Susan Buckley cited success at other school districts with similar policies like La Vega ISD in Waco.
The district is working on a communication plan for parents to address their concerns.
They will also have a frequently asked questions document that they can reference.
More from 6 News: