The North Platte public school board is working out a plan to lock up students’ cell phones if they bring them to school in the morning.

The situation has been discussed for several months. It was the leading topic Thursday at the school board’s monthly non-voting meeting, spurred by a new law enacted in the statehouse.

North Platte Supt. Todd Rhodes said the district will implement a full-day cell phone ban, with exceptions permitted by law for students who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a health plan.

Director of Special Education Erica Johnson said a phone will only be allowed for IEP students if it directly supports the student’s learning disability.

At Madison and Adams Middle Schools, students will check their phones into slots during homeroom and retrieve them after returning their Chromebooks at the end of the day.

At the high school, phones will be stored in numbered lockers during first period Bulldog time, secured by the administration. Students may also leave their phones at home or in their car.

The plans at the elementary schools are not yet finalized.

Disciplinary action will be stair-stepped. In middle and high schools, the first offense results in confiscation, and only the student’s parent can retrieve the phone. Repeated violations bring more severe consequences, including expulsion in the most severe cases.

The discipline policy in elementary schools is still in development.

Board members also discussed teacher use of their personal phones. Angela Blaesi expressed concern that students will often ask to use a teacher’s phone. And, Skip Altig foresees potential issues if students see the adult staff using phones. Rhodes said principals are working with teachers to create a model of appropriate use.

The board is expected to vote on the policy at their next meeting on June 9.

In a separate interview, school board President Emily Garrick told the Bulletin that enforcement will be challenging.

“I don’t think there’s anyone that’s going into this thinking it will be easy, but often in life the hard thing and the right thing are the same thing,” Garrick said. “As a former teacher, I knew the impact phones were having in classrooms and on learning… The data is in strong support of this (ban) being good for children.”

LB 140 prohibits schools from accessing student devices. Garrick said staff will receive training to ensure full compliance.

“Student devices will be safe from being accessed,” she said. “If students bring phones to school, they will be checked in and stored under lock and key. Staff will be trained on both the purpose of the policy and the legal boundaries around device handling.”

Garrick clarified that flexibility will exist in enforcement: “While the expectations of the policy are consistent districtwide, what a disciplinary action may look like for a fourth grader should be different than what it looks like for a twelfth grader.”

“The cell phone issue is not one that should surprise or sneak up on anyone,” she said. “Communication started very early with parents letting them know that this would be coming and to start having these conversations with their children.”

She added that the district has included teaching staff, secondary principals, and student voices in shaping the policy, with further correspondence to parents underway.

“I believe parental involvement is the key indicator of success when it comes to a child’s education, and the cell phone issue is no different. In order for this policy to be implemented well, we recognize that we will need help and support from our NPPSD parents.”

In shaping this policy, Garrick said the board is focused on achieving a holistic balance between compliance, learning, and well-being.

“Anytime the board is creating policy, we consider legal requirements, the impact on student learning, implementation, costs, and communication,” she said.

Parent feedback has largely supported the move, with many expressing relief.

“One parent told me they were excited their child would finally have to talk face-to-face at lunch instead of staring at a screen,” Garrick said. “Others have linked phones to anxiety, bullying, and distraction.”

Garrick offered reassurance for parents concerned about emergency communication.

“Our district still has plenty of internal and external communication methods — apps, alerts, email, landlines. Phones don’t need to be in students’ hands for families to stay connected,” she said.

She reflected on the deep emotional impact of constant phone use.

“If we feel stress from being ‘always on,’ imagine how our kids feel. It’s so important to give them space to be kids and build real relationships. The best things in life happen off-screen.”

While Garrick typically favors local control, she acknowledged the significance of the Legislature’s action.

“I believe LB 140 will help create a consistent educational environment statewide. And there’s an added weight to something when it’s not just policy — it’s the law,” she said.

Reports: Jefferson Elementary

Jefferson Elementary School emphasized reflection, refinement, and reaching higher during the 2024–25 school year, Principal Tami Eshleman and Dean of Students Danesa Fleck said.

Eshleman and Fleck talked about the school’s academic progress and plans for improvement not only in academics, but also behavior and attendance during the meeting.

Jefferson has a goal to increase proficiency in math and reading on the Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System (NSCAS.) The goal is 65% proficiency in math and 60% in reading. In 2023–24, students scored 44% in math and 34% in reading.

This year, those percentages increased a little to 49% and 38%, respectively, with the most notable gains coming in the third grade.

To support improvement, the school uses data-driven instruction, interventions, and enrichment programs, Eshleman said. Tests such as Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) and classroom-based Common Summative Assessments (CSAs) help track student achievement through the year.

On the behavioral front, Jefferson implemented 10 plans for students who require extra support, resulting in fewer disruptions and incidents of physical contact. Nearly 50% of students received zero office referrals this year, reflecting a school-wide emphasis respectful, positive behavior.

The school also celebrated a 95.46% average daily attendance rate — the highest in recent years. Chronic absenteeism decreased. Only 14 students missed 20 or more days and none missed more than 30 days.

The staff credited the “Dare to Go 5 Below” initiative, which encourages families to keep absences to five days or less through the school year.

Looking forward, Jefferson is reinforcing its vision — creating a safe, inclusive environment with strong relationships and joyful learning. The staff is committed to collaboration, purposeful engagement, and data-informed decision-making, Eshleman said.

Report on technology

The district’s Technology Director Brian Tegtmeier updated the board on tech advancements. North Platte Public Schools has maintained a 1:1 student-to-Chromebook (a brand of laptop computer) ratio since 2020, purchasing nearly 900 new devices annually.

Tegtmeier said redeploying fourth-grade Chromebooks to kindergarten is helping reduce costs.

Next year, middle school devices will be stored in carts at the end of the school day, while high schoolers will be able to keep theirs for home use. Chromebooks for the staff are replaced every five years, with a budget of $52,000 allocated annually. He said the next round of replacements is set for 2028.

Tegtmeier said new computer labs have been added at Adams, Madison, and the high school, where high-powered setups support journalism classes. In all, the district manages more than 1,600 devices, including PCs, Macs, iPads, and Apple TVs, all of which are maintained through systems such as FileWave and Google Admin Console.

Students access platforms such as Eureka Math, Amplify, Edgenuity, and Quaver Music through Clever and Google Single Sign-On. Teachers use ClassWize to monitor and manage student Chromebook activity during class, Tegtmeier said.

He said cyber-security remains a top priority. Two-factor authentication, endpoint protection, staff training, and insurance policies are safeguards. Behind the scenes, the tech team supports 45 servers, more than 340 wireless access points, 600 IP phones, and more than 400 security cameras, as well as vape sensors and panic alerts.

The department also helps drive instruction by building custom reports for Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) decisions and managing state data reporting. Tegtmeier said hands-on learning continues to grow, with 3D printers and laser engravers supplementing Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) classes as well as industrial arts programs. 

Early childhood education

The school board was told that the Sixpence Early Childhood Program, now in its eighth year, continues to support local families with children ages 0-3, or those expecting children, through home visits and parent education.

The goal is strong early development and secure parent-child bonds.

Families can enroll in the program during pregnancy and remain in the program until their child enters preschool or turns four years old. Sixpence efforts prioritize teenage parents, first-time parents, and families involved in the child welfare system.

“Our main goal is to build strong, secure attachments between parents and their children,” program staff member Megan Dailey said. “Early bonding is critical for long-term learning and development.”

Dailey said home visitors meet with families at least three times a month, bringing simple materials to foster activities that improve literacy, language development, and family connection. Visits take place in homes or community spaces such as parks and libraries.

Beyond early learning, the Sixpence program offers such services as:

• Infant massage education to promote bonding.
• Certified car seat technician support to ensure child travel safety.
• Doula training for staff to help families prepare for labor, delivery, and postpartum care.

Data collection is a cornerstone of the program. Recent questionnaire results show:

• 94% of families said the program helped them understand child development.
• 100% felt supported by staff.
• 97% of parents demonstrated strong bonds with their children in video assessments.

The program also provides books to encourage reading at home. Surveys track how often families use them.

Sixpence is funded privately through the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, allowing services to continue without reliance on state or federal grants.

“It’s fully supported through investment returns, which gives us long-term sustainability,” Dailey said.

Although the program currently has a small waiting list, it remains flexible. It prioritizes high-need referrals, especially those from child welfare and juvenile court systems.

“We’re seeing growing awareness and demand,” she said. “It’s rewarding that community partners now recognize the program and actively refer families our way.”

In other items, the board:

• Reviewed policies 3024-3059. Changes to several policies were discussed and will be brought to a vote during the June 9 meeting. 
• Heard a update from Human Resource Director Kevin Mills, who said that 25 of 26 staff positions have been filled. 

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