Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine recently signed a bipartisan bill regarding cell phones in the classroom.
H.B. 250 originally focused on high school graduates obtaining a military seal. Now it also addresses cell phone policies in schools. The legislation unanimously passed in the Ohio General Assembly on May 8.
Each school board will be required to adopt a cell phone policy by July, 2025. Local school districts are currently reviewing their own policies.
Toledo Public Schools does not currently have a policy in place specifically related to the use of cell phones in schools, James Gant, deputy superintendent, said in a statement.
“However, cell phones and other electronic devices are included throughout other board policies, mostly pertaining to the misuse of social media,” the statement read. “Our high schools have ‘guidelines’ in place related to students using cell phones in school/classrooms.”
The district will now look into creating a policy for cell phones.
“We have been following the developments associated with the bill since it was first introduced. Now that Governor DeWine has signed HB 250,” the statement read, “Toledo Public Schools will develop a plan that meets its requirements and share those updates with our stakeholders as we prepare for the 2024-25 school year.”
Oregon schools also does not have a policy, said Superintendent Hal Gregory.
“We do not have a uniform policy for cell phones,” Mr. Gregory said. “We will use this new law to review our policies and bring consistency to the district.”
Cell phones are allowed in the district at this time but are regulated by each teacher.
“At this time cell phones are permitted in grades 9-12, but each teacher has the authority to limit the amount of usage in the classroom,” he said. “Usage varies teacher to teacher. In grades 7-8, cell phones are not permitted unless the teacher grants permission. Essentially in grades 7-12, the individual teacher makes the final decision whether a student may have their cell phones out in class. Students are permitted to have their cell phones out in the hallways and lunchtime in grades 7-12.”
Tim Zieroff, Sylvania schools assistant superintendent, said the district already has a policy in place that aligns with the governor’s expectations.
“High school students can use them in between classes, during lunch, and before and after school, Mr. Zieroff said. “In high school the phones have to be turned off and put away during class. In elementary and junior high, the phones need to be turned off and put away the entire day.”
Mr. Zieroff said the district may need to look at tightening the policy for the high school students in the future.
Ottawa Hills schools Superintendent Adam Fineske said the district already has a policy in place.
“Currently in elementary school, the students can have cell phones, but they must be in lockers during school,” Mr. Fineske said. “Junior and senior high school students can have the phones during lunch and before and after school. During class, students must deposit their phone in slots in device holders. Every classroom has holders.”
Mr. Fineske said he believes the district has a very strong cell phone policy compared to other districts.
“Our administrative team will hold discussions over the summer,” he said. “We will wait until we get guidance from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. If changes are made, it will be during the next year.”
Whitmer High School Principal Jennifer Bronikowski said the district has an “off and away” policy in all schools. The policy will change at the junior high and high school level beginning in the fall.
“The policy currently is students have to have their phones off and put away in their locker, pocket, or backpack,” Ms. Bronikowski said. “Our policy is great, but making sure the implementation across all of the classrooms is the same is not the best. We began discussing a new policy in October.”
Come fall, every classroom will have a device pouch in the room where students will be expected to place their cell phones.
“We have had discussions with our Student Advisory Group and Building Leadership Team on our cell phone policy,” she explained. “This new policy will take it from being a teacher issue. It will be the same policy in all classrooms.”
Ms. Bronikowski said the student group has been given a copy of the new tiered consequences the district is considering. The policy and consequences will be in the student handbooks in June, she said.
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