A local school district banned cell phones this year. Here’s what happened

Maia Belay
·2 min read
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AKRON, Ohio (WJW) — Cell phones and social media have long been blamed for issues at school and now there’s a renewed push to block both from K-12 classrooms under House Bill 485.

One of the area’s largest districts banned phones this school year and noticed a big change. Data is still being collected at Akron Public Schools, which has reported an apparent decrease in fights.

“It’s created physical conflicts in terms of staging fights, filming fights, posting fights on social media, bullying, fake threats at the school, gun threats,” said Don Zesiger, director of security at Akron Public Schools. “It’s really a distraction from the educational process.”

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Zesiger said the proactive policy has made a significant difference among students.

“We’ve had students admit that unplugging from their phone during the school day is a good thing. It’s lessened their anxiety,” said Zesiger.

The district requires students to keep their phones in a specialized pouch that locks, created by the company Yonder.

“You put your cell phone inside the pouch,” said Zesiger. “You press this locking mechanism and it’s locked and the student keeps it with them throughout the day. Then at the end of the day, they approach an administrator who has this magnet. You touch the magnet your phone comes out and you’re on your way.”

The primary sponsor of HB 485, Rep. Tom Young, a Republican representing the Dayton area, said if passed, there would be no ability for districts to opt out. Instead, there would be some local control, with every school district creating its own policy prohibiting electronic devices and social media in classrooms.

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Ohio Education Association President Scott DiMauro said the organization is analyzing the bill before deciding whether to endorse or oppose it.

“We certainly welcome the focus that policymakers are placing on this issue,” said DiMauro. “We know, hearing from teachers across the state, cell phones can be an incredibly distracting influence and at times can lead to harm.”

Zesiger said, “It takes a lot of the burden off the teacher in the classroom as well, because they don’t have to be the phone police.”

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