Will Ohio County Schools implement “phone free zones” for the 24-25 school year?

ELM GROVE, W.Va. (WTRF) – Wheeling Park High School administration has brought the idea of a “phone-free zone” to the Ohio County Board of Education to work towards eliminating distractions in the classroom.

At the Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Kim Miller contacted “ Yondr ” – a company that makes secure pouches for cell phones that can only be opened with the unlocking base.

As of now, these devices would be a secondary option to having a space in each classroom for students to leave their phones and would be used for students who went against that policy.

”In my mind, two terrible things happen. One is kids can’t be expected to learn if they’re listening, or watching their phones, or watching movies, or listening to music, or bullying each other. And two, I think it’s terribly disrespectful to the teachers. I mean, they prep and they work hard to try to teach these kids and they’re somewhere else. I think we owe to both of those stakeholders to create something that the phones aren’t used.”

David Croft – Ohio County Schools Board of Education

”We want to be able to support teachers, support the administration, and we think this will be a way to help our students able to enhance their education.”

Dr. Kim Miller – Superintendent, Ohio County Schools

Before the board discussed the future, they recognized the past by honoring 20 retirees, with a combined 511 years of service.

Bus garage coordinator and mechanic Randy McCardle took the cake with 47 years at Ohio County Schools.

A meeting to further discuss the “phone free zones” is happening later this week to bring more information to the next board of education meeting, so stay with 7News for updates.

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