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Northwestern Lehigh SD to require high school students to store phones during instructional periods
Summary
High school administrators announced a new 'take-a-break' system that will require students to place phones in designated slots during each class period; district staff said the change is aimed at reducing distraction and off-hours online incidents.
High school administrators at a Northwestern Lehigh SD board meeting announced a new expectation that high school students will store personal mobile devices in designated slots during instructional periods beginning with the next school year.
Administrators said the change will create four daily 'take-a-break' periods — one in each class block — during which students will keep phones out of reach. The stated goals are to remove the distractions caused by notifications and vibrations, improve academic engagement, and reduce incidents that arise from off-campus or out-of-class digital interactions.
The administrator presenting the proposal described the practice as teaching students to "take that 60 to 70 minute break 4 times a day," saying the district expects academic, social and emotional benefits. Administrators pointed to disciplinary incidents over the past one to two years that involved cellphone-mediated messages and posts during noninstructional times; staff cited Snapchat and disappearing messages as complicating investigations.
Under the approach described to the board: students will not be permitted to use personal devices during the instructional day; devices must be powered off and out of sight unless a staff member or building administrator permits use (the transcript noted an existing middle-school exception). At the high school, staff said students will retain noninstructional access during transitions, lunch and passing periods, but teachers will require phones to be secured during class time.
Administrators said families will receive communications about the initiative and staff will share research and guidance showing potential neurological and attention benefits. The district said counseling visits tied to overnight conflicts related to phones were among the reasons for the change.
No formal board vote was recorded at the meeting; presenters said the rules will be rolled out with professional development and family communications before school begins.
Speakers named in the discussion included an unnamed high school administrator who presented the plan and district staff members referenced as "Mrs. Yaddish" and "Mr. Dibler" as having collaborated on the guideline adjustments.
