CHENEY, Wash. — More than 5,000 Cheney Public School students returned to classrooms Monday morning to find their schools transformed by major infrastructure upgrades and new policies.
“We started off at 6 a.m.,” said Tiffany Sleep, a parent of three Cheney students. When asked how the morning went, she described it as “chaotic but good.”
Sleep immediately noticed the changes at Windsor, particularly a new bus loop that has streamlined the drop-off process. This upgrade was made possible by a bond measure voters in the district passed in the fall 2024.
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“We didn’t have all of this last year,” Sleep said, referring to the improved traffic flow system.
The bus loop represents just one of several infrastructure improvements Windsor Elementary received through the bond funding. Superintendent Ben Ferney said the upgrades were necessary to accommodate the growth of the district.
“It is just incredible for our students and staff,” Ferney said.
Beyond physical improvements, Cheney Public Schools has made changes to its cell phone policy.
Under the updated policy, middle school students will not be allowed to use devices during school hours, while high school students cannot use their devices during class time. The district believes these restrictions will create a more focused learning environment.
“We are going to allow hopefully a better learning environment,” Ferney explained.
Parent reactions to the cell phone policy have been mixed. Sleep supports the concept but has reservations about its implementation.
“I like the idea, but at the same time, I feel like they should have a designated time to check their phones,” Sleep said.
The district has built flexibility into the policy, allowing students to use their phones during emergencies or with permission from an administrator.
For superintendent Ferney, the hope is that the new policy helps with student well being. “If class is out of you are in between sessions you are going to talk with one another and engage with each other.”
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