At least one Kansas district is projecting $150,000 to $180,000 just to equip secondary students with individual phone lockers, according to the Wichita Eagle. The state provided zero dedicated funding. Every dollar comes from local budgets.
Districts choosing fabric locking pouches — think Yondr, the magnetic-lock system concert venues use to keep audiences present — face an estimated $30 per unit. Statewide, the Kansas Division of the Budget put that figure at roughly $13.4 million if every student received one, according to the Lawrence KS Times. Lockers require a steeper upfront investment. Neither option came with a state check attached.
Legislators passed the policy. The price tag was someone else’s problem.
Landlines worked fine for a century or so. Any specific reason you think they wouldn’t work today?
The school has far fewer land lines and support staff than they did when I went to school and parents are already used to making contact via phones and other devices. They will be getting a ton of calls and kids trying to call out. They will adapt eventually, but it will start off as a shitshow.
On top of that they had the ability to check in an out of classes and a ton of other stuff using phones that will no longer be an option. They have inconvenient workarounds, but the transition for those is gonna be a shitshow too.
Pure doomerism.
The schools where I grew up had one landline for over a thousand kids. The sole school secretary answered it as well as handling other duties. It had a call-waiting system. If there was an issue that might prompt lots of parents to call in, they’d just update the OGM: “If you’re calling about the such-and-such, here’s the latest information. Blah blah. Otherwise, please hold to speak to someone.” It was always fine.
As for checking-in to class, no need to use smartphones: teachers can take the register (roll-call) at the start of each class.
Cool story, yo.
What a pointless reply.
I debunked your concerns. Hopefully, that reassures you schools can function just as well, if not better, without smartphones or even cell phones.