How will new cell phone policies work at local schools?

CLEVELAND (WJW) — Cleveland Metropolitan School District recently announced a new policy that will require students to lock up their cell phones while at school.

“Beginning this academic school year, all CMSD schools will create cell-phone-free environments to improve student learning and academic performance. Each school will have a system in place for storing phones during school hours. Some schools will use the Yondr program, which provides secure pouches for phones. These pouches will stay with students throughout the school day, ensuring their phones are safely stored while minimizing distractions.” the policy reads.

The new policy is similar to that of Akron Public Schools where the district requires students to lock their phones in ‘YONDR’ bags, which are locking pouches, at the start of a school day.

When they leave the building for the day, the pouches can be magnetically unlocked and opened.

“It’s quieter than it used to be; we don’t have the number of fights that we used to,” said Don Zesiger, Akron Public School’s former Director of Security after the policy was instituted there beginning last fall.

Earlier this year, Ohio Gov. Mike Dewine signed House Bill 250 into law, which requires all public schools in the state to create its own cell phone policy.

“There is a broad consensus today that cell phones in schools are not good,” said Dewine when signing the bill in May.

“If children are using their cell phones for monitoring medical conditions such as insulin and so forth, those things are going to be allowed and will be allowed to continue,” said Sen. Edward Brenner, the head of the Ohio Senate Education Committee following the signing of HB 250.

“I think first and most immediately, it’s a distraction. I mean, you really do get addicted to that immediate gratification of picking up and, you know, seeing how many likes you got on Instagram or how many views you got on TikTok. I mean, students really get fixated on that,” said Dr. Charles Smialek, Superintendent of Parma Schools, where cell phones are currently banned in classrooms.

“Parents have been supportive. They understand these are not good in terms of being of learning tools in classrooms,” he added.

The most astonishing recommendation comes from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“So the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that there be zero screen time per day. The problem with that is it’s nearly impossible,” said Dr. Elizabeth Harris, a psychologist with University Hospitals in Cleveland.

“So there is, of course, a wide spectrum of the needs for technology in different kids. But for sure, we will see kids that have or display symptoms of an addiction to technology,” said Harris, who favors schools leaving their policies flexible. “There are kids that probably do not need screens at all, but there are other kids who require it.”

Schools like Riverside High School in Painesville have adopted a flexible policy.

“Some teachers will make you put them in phone pockets where others say keep it in your pocket until you are done,” said Camden Herrmann, a Riverside Junior.

A panel of Riverside students assembled by Fox 8 News overwhelmingly did not mind being separated from their phones during a school day, but preferred having them where they could use them during their downtime.

“I feel like a decent amount of kids usually try to sneak them, play games when they should be doing their work,” said Cohen Gielink, a Riverside sophmore.

“It’s more just a way for me to keep in touch with people just in case something goes wrong, or I don’t know – it’s just a big safety thing for me,” said Liam Forehlich, a Riverside Senior

House Bill 250 does not require schools to eliminate cell phones in schools, although for those in some of the state’s highest elected offices that is the preferred policy.

“The testimony of the school leaders is clear smartphones in schools are problematic and when we eliminate them we have better test scores better academic results and a better culture in our school,” said Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted.

“Eliminating smart phones in schools leads to improved academic performance, reduces bullying and lessens disciplinary issues all things that we would like to see more of change as soon as you enact this policy,” said Husted.

“The state saying that school districts need to address the issue and do it in a way that focuses attention on learning and engagement and do so in a way that really prioritizes student safety and the safety of adults who work at the school, I think is a good idea,” said Scott DiMauro, President of the Ohio Education Association.

The new law does not require public school districts in Ohio to immediately draft their policy, but gives them until July 2025, the start of the 2025-26 school year, to have a policy in place.

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