District 128 committee urges consistent ‘‘cell‑phone hotel’’ use and wider digital‑citizenship rollout

A District 128 Digital Citizenship and Well‑being Committee recommended a districtwide policy to consistently remove student cell phones from classrooms during instruction and to expand digital‑citizenship education.

The committee, convened after growing community interest, told the Board’s Personnel Committee that the district’s written policy and student handbook already permit phones in school “but the expectation is that they're not using them during class, unless it's for instructional purposes or, at the direction of the teacher,” and that the challenge is inconsistent implementation across classrooms.

The recommendation centers on wider adoption of so‑called “cell‑phone hotels” — secure places in classrooms where students store phones during instruction — paired with a tiered support system for students who struggle to comply and a communications campaign for families and staff. “The wording of our current policy is sufficient. But the problem lies within the implementation, and we need to strengthen that,” said Mary Totterick, communications director.

Student members of the district’s principal advisory board urged a consistent approach. “The further it is away from me, the better I can pay attention,” said Lauren Shea, a student on the advisory board. Another student, Sophia Jackman, suggested using phones for attendance in some cases to reduce classroom distractions.

School staff said many teachers already use cell‑phone hotels. “Two thirds of our teachers use it every day,” Vernon Hills assistant principal Greg Stilling told the committee, and staff survey results show 88 percent of teachers “could get behind a universal use of cell phone hotels.” Teachers reported improved engagement, fewer academic‑integrity incidents and better classroom management when phones are stored out of reach.

The presentation noted research linking heavy social‑media and phone use with mental‑health and attention concerns, and committee members referenced recent national debates and books such as Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation. Committee members also pointed to a recent Illinois Senate action on legislation proposing classroom phone bans; the committee said that, based on its current understanding, state legislation moving through Springfield would be aligned with its recommendations and would not require rewriting the committee's plans.

Committee leaders proposed a summer‑to‑fall timeline: use the summer to plan communications and supports, then relaunch expectations and training districtwide at the start of the next school year. The committee recommended exceptions be codified for medical needs and other individualized circumstances, handled through a tiered MTSS (multi‑tiered systems of supports) approach. Board members asked the committee to define clear consequences and measurement points for implementation and suggested including parents and community volunteers in the rollout to reinforce expectations at home.

The committee requested time to create materials for staff, families and students and said any specific deadlines would depend on the final form and timing of statewide legislation.

Community reaction during the committee meeting included broad support from board members for a thoughtful rollout and requests for concrete enforcement steps to be included in teacher evaluations and the student handbook.