SPRINGDALE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — KNWA’s Ashlyn Brothers sat down to talk with Springdale Public Schools superintendent Dr. Jared Cleveland about new cell phone policies, funding challenges and how the district is approaching artificial intelligence in education.
Springdale currently serves about 21,600 K–12 students plus around 1,000 pre-K children, according to Cleveland.
‘Bell to Bell, No Cell’ policy, other laws take effect
Starting Aug. 4, Arkansas schools, including Springdale, are implementing the “bell to bell, no cell” law, which restricts students from using their cell phones during the school day.
Cleveland explained the policy means students must store their phones upon arrival, usually in designated “cell phone garages,” and cannot access them until dismissal.
“Most staff across the state has welcomed it. Most parents have too, maybe not so much for the students,” Cleveland said. “If you bring a cell phone to school, you either put it in the pouch, you put it in a garage or something. You don’t have it all day.”
Springdale Public Schools has chosen to use charging lockers where students can securely store and charge their phones. Each student uses an individual code to lock and unlock their phone and school staff can assist if codes are forgotten, Cleveland said.
Cleveland also addressed recent legislation impacting schools, including the LEARNS and ACCESS bills.
“We’re not afraid of [school] choice. What it’s done for us is we’ve upped our game on everything,” he said. “As long as we’re a choice, we’re happy with that, and we’ll serve any child that comes to us.”
Springdale Public Schools is involved in a legal dispute over displaying the Ten Commandments on school property.
Superintendent Cleveland said the district is following a state law that allows it but has been sued along with three other districts.
“We’re in the middle of that, and we didn’t place ourselves there,” Cleveland said. “The legislature, in their infinite wisdom, passed a law but said it was allowable. And we follow the law.”
He added that multiple groups have offered to provide copies of the Ten Commandments, some in unexpected ways, noting the law requires the King James Version specifically. A court stay is in place, and a ruling is expected soon.
Staffing and federal funding challenges
The district believes it is adequately staffed for current enrollment but is prepared to hire more if student numbers increase suddenly after school starts.
Most school funding comes from the state, which receives federal block grants for specific programs like Title I (poverty) and Title VI (special education). However, the federal government typically funds about 10 cents of every dollar needed, expecting states to cover the rest.
Cleveland highlighted the costs of compliance, saying, “It costs about 20% of the dollars that we receive… just to make sure states are in compliance.”
Cleveland said that if the federal government reduced regulatory oversight, more money could directly support students.
Artificial intelligence and facilities
On the topic of artificial intelligence (AI), Cleveland said the district plans to use AI tools responsibly as a supplement, not a replacement, for learning.
“We need to make sure that students aren’t using artificial intelligence to replace their own learning, because if they do that, then they’re not learning at all,” he said.
To address this, the district is forming an AI task force led by IT Director Paul Miller and involving teachers, community members, and students to develop appropriate policies.
Springdale is upgrading facilities by rebuilding Westwood Elementary on-site and exploring cost-neutral, district-owned housing to help staff with local affordability, Cleveland added.
Additionally, plans are underway to replace the Jones building and improve athletic facilities, all initiatives the district plans to pursue without asking voters for increased taxes.
KNWA’s Ashlyn Brothers will discuss Springdale’s hiring of Devil’s Den homicide suspect Andrew McGann and classroom anxiety with Cleveland on Let’s Talk About It on 479 First.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
