‘A revitalization of inquisitiveness’: Decatur School District finds success after first week of phone ban

DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — Pencils hit paper as students all across Central Illinois start their first day of school, but some classrooms look a little different this year thanks to new rules surrounding cell phone use.

School districts like Decatur banned cell phone use for all students on school grounds earlier this summer.

Three major districts throughout the area have taken similar steps as Decatur for this school year: Springfield , Champaign, and Urbana all updated their own phone policies.

A week into Decatur’s ban, officials say it’s so far, so good.

“What I’m noticing is a sort of revitalization of inquisitiveness,” Ron Lybarger said, who has taught at Eisenhower High School for the last two decades and now heads the English Department there.

This past summer, the Decatur School District added to their cell phone policy.

“We already had a policy in place, but we wanted to tweak it a bit so our kids would not bring cell phones to the classroom, the lunchroom, hallways, those things,” Decatur Superintendent Dr. Rochelle Clark said.

Clark said by keeping screens out of schools, students are able to turn their full attention to learning.

“We just want to try to help them to understand that there are other ways to communicate, but at the same time, utilizing that to help with student achievement, you know, taking away all barriers that are hindering our students’ success,” she said.

Friday marks the end of the first week back for students and educators. Lybarger said the differences, one week in, have been encouraging.

“Many of these students haven’t had extended periods of time without a personal device on them,” he said. “So even in their pocket, you know, it’s always there. But now it isn’t. And now they’re put in a scenario where, you know, they’re interacting, and they’re engaging, and they’re asking questions, and it’s just beautiful. It’s been a blessing.”

Faculty will continue easing students into the change of policy through the second week of school, but so far, Clark’s pleased with the overall outlook.

“It’s been pretty good. Now, of course, kids have tried us, but I mean, that’s just natural, right? But for the most part, I think it went really well,” Clark said.

Decatur students at each grade level have spots to store their phones throughout the day.

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