VILLAGE OF MUKWONAGO, Wis. — The Mukwonago Village Committee of the Whole voted to shut down an ordinance indefinitely that would have allowed police to ticket students for using cell phones during school hours.
Many parents voiced strong opposition to the proposal Wednesday night, sharing safety concerns.
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“I’m very happy with them tabling this. When it came to a legal matter where they could issue citations, it felt extreme,” Andrea Kokott, a district parent, said.
Kenneth Sallee, another parent, agreed. He felt the issue encouraged parents to pay more attention to local board decisions.
“This is an issue that made parents speak up and pay attention to what these boards are voting on, and I think that’s a positive that comes out of this,” Sallee said.
The proposal followed a new policy this year by the Mukwonago Area School District banning cell phones on school property.
Students can bring them but can't use the devices during the school day.
Watch: Mukwonago community relieved after board shuts down cell phone ordinance
District Superintendent Joe Koch told the board at an earlier meeting that since the ban was implemented, the district has had a hard time enforcing it, so it went to the village for backup.
The ordinance would have allowed court penalties for those who repeatedly violate the district's proposed cell phone policy during the school day and on school grounds.
Mukwonago High School seniors Hayley Maroszek and Lauren McGlothlen think the policy has been good, but that an ordinance might take things too far.
“It felt really scary," Maroszek said.
"I agree with the rule-following, but I also feel like it is a pretty far step. I understand that they would be breaking a school rule, but I just think it’s a lot further than people think," McGlothlen added.
District Superintendent Joe Koch was not at the meeting. A request for comment was not immediately answered.
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