The superintendent of District 87 schools said a new policy banning cell phones in classrooms has had a positive impact at Bloomington High School.
Superintendent David Mouser gave updates on the policy and a number of other important topics during an interview on WGLT’s Sound Ideas.
Mouser said phone usage is currently the leading cause for disciplinary referrals at Bloomington High School. BHS enacted a new policy this school year to ban phones in classrooms, replacing individual classroom policies that led to inconsistent enforcement.
Mouser said the new policy has changed the culture of the building.
Mouser was principal of Tri-Valley High School when phones were becoming popular with students. He said then he embraced allowing phones in school as a tool with educational value.
“I am absolutely in the other camp now,” said Mouser. “Because I see the distractions and what it does in terms of kids not interacting with one another.”
Mouser predicted laptops and computers may soon become the next to go. A 2022-23 school year survey showed 94% of public schools were providing digital devices like laptops or tablets to students for school use.
“What we don't want to do is be in a situation where we're so reliant on it that we actually are taking steps backwards,” said Mouser. “And I think we're starting to see some of our teachers, particularly with the advent of AI, move back to a lot more pencil and paper things.”
Mouser said while teachers still must prepare students with lessons on how to responsibly use the technology, there also needs to be a balance.
“There are foundational skills that have to take place for all of our students, and we can't just be relying on throwing a phone or computer in front of a kid and hoping for the best,” said Mouser.
State Farm departure
Mouser said District 87 will not immediately be hurt when State Farm moves out of a Bloomington office building to concentrate operations at Corporate South at the end of 2027.
Property taxes on the building will still be paid at a similar rate even if nobody occupies the building.
“While it will decrease potentially over the years, and we'll have to watch that and we'll negotiate that and have conversations along the way, the building is still there,” said Mouser. “And so I'm concerned about it, but I also recognize that there are things that I can control and there's things that I can't.”
Mouser said the district will monitor the situation as the building goes to market. If a new business acquires it at a different price than what State Farm paid for it, that would change the valuation, and with it the property tax coming to District 87.
“Ultimately, they still own the property, and the property still exists, and the property is still of value,” said Mouser.
SNAP Benefits
Mouser said the district is also monitoring changes to food assistance.
An estimated 150,000 Illinoisans could lose access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP] benefits beginning May 1 from work requirements in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. This could impact District 87 students, 65% of which come from low-income households.
Students can utilize Direct Certification, a simplified method of determining eligibility for free meals that does not require completing a Household Eligibility form. There is also paperwork District 87 families can complete to retain access, which also allows the district to waive fees.
