Jeannette City School District considers classroom storage of cellphones for all grades

All student cellphones may spend much of the day locked away at Jeannette City School District buildings if school directors approve a new policy next month.

Directors gave an initial OK on Monday to the proposed change that would require mandatory classroom storage of any electronic device for students in all grades.

It’s the planned expansion of an initiative started during the 2023-24 school year by teachers of seventh- and eighth-graders.

Junior-senior high school Principal Vanessa White said that effort has been successful.

“When the phones are away, the kids paid attention more,” she said, adding that they also socialized with their peers.

Schools across the country — including some in Western Pennsylvania — have limited students’ access to cellphones as government officials have increasingly advocated for restrictions. Some local school districts, including Woodland Hills, Plum and Monessen, have enacted similar policies.

Among K-12 schools, 95% of students have cellphones and more than 80% have smartphones specifically, Pew Research Center reported in January 2024.

There are a significant number of students who have cellphones, especially those at the intermediate level and older, said Jeannette City School District Superintendent Matt Jones. High schoolers currently have to have their phones put away during class, stored in their locker or backpack.

If the policy is approved by the board, White said the district will buy storage boxes with compartments to hold up to 36 phones for each classroom. Phones will be returned to upper level students between classes and at lunch, or at the end of the day for elementary students.

The draft policy indicates a building principal can grant exceptions for reasons such as health, safety or an emergency or for classroom-related activities. School directors must approve the measure for a second time before it goes into effect. The next school board voting meeting is June 16.

If it is approved, Jones said, officials will roll out communication with parents and students during the summer to notify them of the changes in advance of the 2025-26 school year.