Warren Schools Implement Electronic Device Policy

Warren County School Officials hope for fewer distractions and more connection by limiting the usage of electronic devices during the school day.

Warren County Director of Schools Grant Swallows said the updated policy has been controversial amongst parents and students. Swallows said the policy was implemented to help kids focus in the classroom.

“We want kids to understand that this is not a punishment for cell phones,” Swallows said. “This is not something the board undertook to be cruel and unusual. It is something that is being done to try to help them be more successful when they are at school by limiting that distraction.”

The policy states that students will not be able to possess a personal electronic device within the school building even if it’s in a backpack or locker. Swallows said the school system will use a system made by Yondr that uses magnets to lock electronic devices in pouches.

“That is something students can do,” Swallows said. “But if they do not use the pouch then according to the policy then they should not bring the electronic device to school, so at the high school level that might look different. They might leave it in their car. For our elementary and middle school students, we would just say leave it at home and don’t bring it to school so we can focus on what we need to focus on.”

Swallows said the school system received some comments about cell phones being a big issue the previous school year.

“Our school board at the end of the school year last year just really began hearing some information from the community and teachers about the fact that students are being inundated with notifications from their personal electronic devices,” Swallows said.

Swallows said the board of education looked at a study done by Phone Free Schools and discovered schools that had a similar policy had test scores go up and discipline rates go down. Swallows said the electronic policy will be a new learning experience for everyone.

“We are not going to be perfect with this,” Swallows said. “We completely understand that this is going to be a learning experience for us, but if we can do anything to try to limit the distractions kids have during the day and help them focus more then we think it’s a worthy goal.”