A series of threatening phone calls targeting schools across Ohio on Wednesday is now raising new concerns about a recently enacted statewide cell phone policy for students. What do you think? 👇🏻⬇️more in the 1rst comments ⬇️👇🏻

 

CLEVELAND (WJW) — A series of threatening phone calls targeting schools across Ohio on Wednesday is now raising new concerns about a recently enacted statewide cell phone policy for students.

Several schools in Northeast Ohio, l, were placed on lockdown Wednesday as part of a suspected statewide swatting scheme.

While officials say the threats were not credible, the incident reignited debate over a new Ohio law banning student cell phone use during the instructional day.

“The very first notice they sent out was, ‘Hey parents, there’s been a situation. We have it under control. Everybody’s in lockdown, but we’re taking precautions. But it was a very vague message,” said Elizabeth McNeese, who has a son in high school.  “So, as a parent that is even scarier because we don’t know what’s actually happening. And not having our kids be able to say, ‘Hey mom, I’m okay. Hey dad, I’m okay.’”

McNeese serves as chair of the Ohio National Parents Organization, a nonprofit that focuses on parent-child relationships when the parents live apart. 

“We should have a say in how they’re raised, but also how they’re educated,” McNeese said. “Topics like cell phones in schools cross over into parental rights, because who at the end of the day has the right to decide what kids do when they’re at school?”

Earlier this year, a new Ohio law went into effect prohibiting students from using cell phones during the instructional day. While many Northeast Ohio school districts already had restrictions in place, the statewide policy officially took effect Jan. 1.

 “Parents should absolutely be the first to be notified about the wellbeing of their children while they are at school. House Bill 250 does not take that away, in fact, it strengthens it. The bill puts the authority in the hands of local schools to adopt clear policies on cellphone use during school hours to reduce classroom distractions, while still allowing districts the flexibility to ensure parents receive timely information and communication when it matters most,” said House Bill 250 co-sponsor State Representative Tracy Richardson (R-Marysville) in a statement Thursday.

For McNeese, Wednesday’s hoax only reinforced her belief that students should still have access to their phones in case of an emergency.

“As a parent that is even scarier because we don’t know what’s actually happening,” she said. “Not having our kids be able to say, ‘Hey mom, I’m okay. Hey dad, I’m okay,’ just heightens the worry in parents’ minds.”