CUSD 300 board gets update on Hanover Research study of student cell‑phone policies

Community Unit School District 300 board members received an interim update June 10 on a district‑commissioned Hanover Research study of student cell‑phone usage and stakeholder views.

The presentation, led by Deputy Superintendent Mark Wetzel and Patty Schmidt, executive director of school improvement and accountability, described the project as an information‑gathering effort rather than a recommendation. "Tonight's presentation is intended to serve as an overview and progress update," Wetzel said, noting the district will share final analysis and any recommendations at a future meeting.

The study seeks to document current usage patterns among students in grades 4–12, awareness of existing policies, and stakeholder attitudes toward potential policy changes. Hanover collected feedback from parents, students, staff and community members through two online surveys and a series of virtual focus groups. Survey administration ran Jan. 17–Feb. 7 and nearly 12,000 responses were recorded, the presenters said. Focus groups were held March 4–April 29; parental consent was required for student participants.

Schmidt said Hanover is analyzing open‑ended survey comments and focus‑group notes; the district will incorporate those findings into a final report. "These items will be shared at a future meeting once the full analysis is complete and any potential recommendations are developed," she said.

District staff also told the board they are monitoring related discussions at the state level that could affect how schools implement or enforce cell‑phone policies.

The board did not take action on policy changes at the June 10 meeting; presenters described next steps as continued analysis and preparation of recommendations for a future board session.