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MSAD 60 considers bell-to-bell cell phone rule for middle and high schools; administration outlines enforcement and parent communications
Summary
Principal Duford described plans to make cell phones 'away' during instructional time across the high school, mirroring middle-school practice; the board and parents asked about watch use, urgent messaging and teacher support during lunch and passing times.
At the July 16 meeting Principal Duford briefed the board on a proposed bell-to-bell cell phone policy for the high school that mirrors current middle-school practice: phones would be away during instructional time, with confiscated devices placed in a lockbox in the main office and returned at the end of the day.
"Our entire building policy is going to mirror our 7th and 8th grade," Principal Duford said, adding that the high school has previously used cellphone restrictions in some grades and that the change is intended to make expectations clearer for staff and students. He said the building will provide phone banks and increase front-office coverage so parents can relay urgent messages to students during the day.
Parents raised questions about smartwatches and whether students would miss time-sensitive messages. Administration said watches would be treated the same as phones if used during instructional time and suggested parents call the front office for urgent messages or use email. "If the message involves 'do I get on the bus or not,' that's when I'd be picking up the phone to call," Principal Duford said.
Board members asked how teachers would be supported when enforcing the policy during lunches and passing times. Duford said the school would use team-based enforcement and increased administrative presence for the first days of school and highlighted that several cohorts of younger students had already experienced the restriction, which should ease compliance.
Administrators said they will provide parent communication and include the policy in orientation for incoming 7th graders. The board did not vote on the policy at the meeting; administration will finalize communications and implementation plans before the new school year.
Key operational details discussed included more front-office coverage to relay urgent messages, phone banks for student use, treating watches similarly to phones, and relying on team-based enforcement across teachers and administrators for the policy's initial rollout.
