Fargo and West Fargo School Districts Support Bill To Have Policies On Phones At School

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — On average, students spend around four to eight hours per day on their cell phones. West Fargo Representative Jim Jonas is sponsoring a bill that would require school districts to establish a cellphone policy for students.

“The problem has become they interrupt educational time and it takes away from learning. So I would say if there’s a medical reason or a learning tool that needs to be used students can use them. But there’s no reason for them to be continually updated or interrupted throughout the day,” said Robin Nelson, Fargo School Board Member and Governmental Affairs Committee Chair.

If signed by the governor, North Dakota will be among around 14 states with similar policies. Shanley High School in Fargo has had strict cellphone rules in place since 2023.

“I think the bill is a good step. To do nothing is not an adequate response so I think the bill attempts to do something and I think that’s a good thing. I do think however the bill is not going to be as effective as people will think it will be,” said Father Kyle Metzger, Principal of Shanley High School.

The Fargo and West Fargo school districts both support the bill and hope it moves forward.

The bill introduced in the House passed on a vote of 89-3.