Summer 2024 Check In

I hope this message finds you enjoying a wonderful summer! As we prepare for the 2024-2025 school year, I wanted to share some important updates and connect with you about an exciting new initiative aimed at enhancing our students' learning experiences.

The Killeen ISD Board of Trustees has approved a plan to make all our secondary campuses phone-free starting this fall. This decision comes after thorough research highlighting the many benefits of a phone-free school environment, including improved student engagement, better concentration, and enhanced mental health. You can find more information about these benefits on our website at www.killeenisd.org/phonefree.

To clarify, we are not banning cell phones at our secondary schools. Instead, students will keep their phones with them in special pouches that are locked at the start of the school day. Pouches will remain locked until the end of the school day, ensuring that students can keep their phones with them but without the distraction during class time. If a student needs to use their phone, they can do so in designated phone zones with permission.

Our district leaders are collaborating closely with school administrators this summer to finalize the daily processes for our phone-free schools. We are also developing a fair and clear approach to managing any violations of this new policy.

We understand that some families may have concerns about this change, and we are here to support you. Throughout the summer, we will keep you informed with regular updates via email and on our website at www.killeenisd.org/phonefree.

We remain focused on student success and the well-being of our students. By creating phone-free schools we believe we will significantly improve academic achievement, increase safety, and create a more conducive learning environment.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Together, we can make the upcoming school year a fantastic and productive one for all our students.

Warm regards,

Dr. Jo Ann Fey
Superintendent of Schools