Morris School District to begin classroom phone caddies Sept. 1 after parents raise concerns

During public comment, parents urged clearer rules on cell-phone use in schools. In response, district leaders told the board that Morristown High School will implement a classroom phone-caddy program beginning Sept. 1 to limit phone use during instructional time.

"There will be communication going home to detail that," a district representative said during public comment, describing the new approach: "Each classroom instead of just selectively using them will be using the cell phone caddies. Students will have access to their cell phones in the change of classes but not during instructional time." Officials said orders for caddies have been placed and that the district will pilot a magnetic locking product and compare results with incoming sixth graders at Freeland Heisen Middle School.

Parents at the meeting had asked whether the student handbook might be revised to address recording devices and classroom distraction; speakers described widespread phone use in hallways and classrooms and asked for better communication about schedule changes that prompt students to keep phones in class or desks later in the day.

District staff said the change is part of a broader strategic-planning and professional-development effort tied to social-emotional learning goals. Officials emphasized that families and staff who have used similar systems reported students felt "more relaxed, and less anxious" after implementation.

The district said it will provide details to families over the summer and that additional operational decisions (e.g., comparisons of locking devices) will be finalized prior to September.