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Cleveland High principal says phone rule linked to steep drop in suspensions and failing classes
Summary
Principal Pritchard and CHS staff credited a new schoolwide phone rule and targeted professional development for large declines in suspensions, fights and failing classes compared with 2023; the board heard teacher and student testimony and saw comparative statistics.
Cleveland High School principal Kevin Pritchard told the Cleveland City Schools board that a new phone rule and targeted instructional changes have coincided with notable declines in disciplinary incidents and failed classes.
"We revamped Ryze. We took out phones and started doing intentional PD," Pritchard told trustees during a spotlight presentation. He presented district-provided comparative figures and highlighted reductions he said staff have observed: "46% fewer suspensions, 90% fewer fights, 80% fewer violent incidences, and 723, fewer classes failed since 2023." The principal framed the changes as part of a broader redesign of classroom and behavior practices.
Teachers and students gave first-person accounts in a short classroom video and follow-up remarks. Jamie Withrow, a CTE teacher featured in the presentation, said the policy reduced distractions and allowed students to spend more time on hands-on work: "My kids are able to be more hands on. They are thinking processes through and overall, they can basically focus better than they did before." Students described increased face-to-face interaction and less off-task phone use.
Pritchard acknowledged the changes prompted anxiety during summer planning but said staff uniformly supported the policy. "You never find something that 100% of teachers agree on. We did," he told the board.
Board members asked clarifying questions but did not take formal action during the spotlight. The presentation also highlighted CHS academics and extracurriculars, including AP course performance above state and national averages in several courses, CTE partnerships and recent extracurricular achievements.
The board27s spotlight did not include a vote on school policy; the presentation served as an informational update to the board about outcomes the high school attributes to the phone rule and related supports.
