Worthington to survey students, staff and families on cell phone use before setting district policy

The Worthington School District will survey staff, families and high school students this week to collect feedback on cell phone and smartwatch use during the school day before discussing a district policy, Superintendent John Bowers told the Board of Education on Sept. 9.

Bowers said Governor DeWine signed legislation about cell phone use during school hours and that “school districts have until July 2025 to adopt a policy on cell phones.” He said Worthington will solicit feedback from three stakeholder groups: staff members (surveyed tomorrow), all district families and ninth through 12th‑grade students, who will take the student survey on Sept. 11. The district is using a platform called ThoughtExchange, and Bowers described the instrument as nine closed questions plus one open‑ended question where respondents can rate peers’ responses.

Board members asked whether the survey questions differ by stakeholder; Bowers said they are “the same questions worded just differently for the stakeholder group.” He also confirmed the survey includes a link to the current district policy so respondents can review the status quo. The superintendent said high schools tightened classroom phone practices this year and that middle schools currently require phones to remain in lockers, making the survey most pointed for high school settings.

Bowers said the board will receive survey results at the Oct. 14 meeting and that the policy committee will work through potential policy language over the winter to meet the statutory deadline.