Local Schools Talk Cell Phone Policy Following Bill Signing

Mary Alice Reporting –

Local schools say they already have cell phone policies in place but are looking forward to seeing a state issued model for any reforms.

Governor Mike DeWine recently signed House Bill 250 which will require schools to adopt cell phone use policies no later than July 2025.

Tuscarawas County districts already have policies, including Dover, as Superintendent Karie McCrate says they made updates last year of where and when students can be on their cell phone, much is to the discretion of teacher, but the biggest change is not using them in the hallways between classes.

“It has been very well received. Teachers will say there’s fewer distractions in the classrooms, we’re hearing students talking to each other more in the hallways, we want students interacting with each other in-person, and honestly, we’ve had positive feedback from students too about the same thing.”

Claymont City’s Schools policy is in line with Dover with phones used at times and approved by teachers for education purposes. Superintendent Brian Rentsch says the current policy was adopted in 2019.

“By the state coming through with recommendations of their policy it helps give our policy, if we have to change, but it also helps give our policy some teeth with what we already have in place. That support from the state level helps the local levels.”

At Indian Valley Local, Superintendent Ira Wentworth says their policy was adjusted pre-COVID and it sums up to “out of sight, out of mind” which means students can have them, but they must be turned off but, in some classes, teachers have the students place the technology in a slot.

“We’re happy with what we have in place, but we’re interested in seeing model policies released by the Department of Education and Workforce, compare that to ours, get some local input, and make a decision if we want to make any revisions. I think there’s definite benefit to increasing those soft skills when you take cell phones out of the equation.”

During HB 250’s signing, Governor DeWine recognized the need for limited phone use saying, “not only is this time precious for the educational development of our children, but we also have a responsibility to safeguard our kids from the nonstop barrage of alerts from the internet and social media that have been proven to be damaging to their mental health.”