Milton has not changed its phone policy this year, but school districts around the area have been strengthening and updating their polices.
“As a school district not much has changed regarding our phone policy,” said Principal Mr. Michael Bergey. However, there are some updates.
The consequences for students having their phones are now stricter, Mr. Bergey said. “The first time is a strike (or warning), the second time the student will give their phone to the office, and they will put it in a secure box, The third time the student will bring it to the office, and the parent has to come get it at the end of the day,” added Mr. Bergey. Previously teachers would handle phone issues as a normal disciplinary action and if necessary, would take the student’s phone, he said.
“I talked with quite a few other school districts about the phone policies and it’s a wide range,” Mr. Bergey said. “The most lenient schools are probably what we do, but it’s starting to get stricter.”
“Most schools are starting to realize that phones can cause distractions and disturbances in classroom environments,” Mr. Bergey added.
Warrior Run High School is among those that are reinforcing their phone policies. According to the Warrior Run High School Student Handbook: “Cell phones, smart watches, and other personal electronic devices such as Air pods are not permitted for student use during the school day.”
“This year we changed the policy to be stricter, and students can’t have phones at all,” said Mr. Casey Magargle, Director of Curriculum at Warrior Run.
According to the Warrior Run student handbook: “The first offence the teacher/ staff confiscates the device and turns it in to the office; the student can then pick it up at the end of the day. The second offence the parent or guardian has to pick the device up from the office, and the student will receive an after school detention. Any further offences will result in progressive discipline and loss of additional privileges may be necessary including a 30 day phone suspension.”
Warrior Run’s phone policies have changed every year for the last four years with much feedback from parents, teachers and students, Mr. Magargle added.
“Overall, the feedback has been fairly positive. Kids are talking to each other more and building more connections with each other,” Mr. Magargle said. There hasn’t been much push back on the change, and parents have been supportive overall, he added.
