Many rumors have flown around about the phone policy for Elkhorn Public Schools (EPS) in the upcoming 2024-25 school year. There were many conversations and ideas discussed in isolation, small groups, and big groups and after six months, a final policy has been decided upon. 

In August of 2024 EPS will require students to walk into a classroom and put their phones in the teachers’ designated location (caddy, box, backpack). Phones will stay in that location from bell to bell with no exceptions. Phones are not permitted in study halls, TA’s, or any instructional periods.

The only time when a student will have access to their phone will be before and after school, during passing periods, on the senior balcony, and during lunch. With any new policy comes many “what ifs.” If a student has all homework completed and all A’s, the phone still must stay out of sight and the district expresses that would be a great time for a student to grab a book. If a student needs to get ahold of their parents, depending on the situation they may be allowed to send a quick text message or wait until the next passing period. If a student’s parents need to get ahold of them immediately, they can communicate it through the office or wait until their child’s class is over in less than an hour. Personal music will also not be allowed in this policy if a teacher wants to play music through their computer, that is okay, but part of the disconnecting from cell phones includes a limitation on music. 

The big question is why? Elkhorn Public Schools takes pride in doing the best they can to help students’ mental health and well being. EPS has reviewed lots of research and each time has found a very large correlation between the use of cell phones and negative mental health. 

“All of the increases in mental health issues concern us and as a district well being is an area we care a lot about,” Assistant principal Emily Christensen said. 

Administration says that the research has shown superficial connections online leading to not engaging as much in face to face conversation which reduces confidence. 

Also, more screen time increases anxiety and depression, it causes lack of physical movement, lack of social skills, lack of exercise, lack of sleep, and leaves kids feeling a lack of purpose. The main goal of the new policy is for students to be able to communicate with their peers face-to-face and engage in more activity outside of a screen. 

“When a parent asks you to do a chore at home, it can be annoying, but when you complete it, it gives you a sense of accomplishment and purpose. “It releases a little bit of dopamine, children lack that dopamine effect with cell phones,” Christensen said. 

In an emergency situation, like a lockdown, after the immediate threat is gone, students would of course be allowed to contact their parents and let them know they are okay. Administration reinstates that in no way they are trying to restrict students from contacting their parents. 

Many questions will arise as the new policy will be a big adjustment for everybody, teachers included. Questions will be answered as time goes on. 

To keep the policy in place will be a team effort between administration, teachers, and students. Administration will check on teachers to make sure the policy is being implemented and remains the way it was proposed. It will be the teachers’ jobs to implement the policy and make sure to the best they can that students are following it. 

Then it will be the students’ jobs to follow the policy, and there will be consequences if not obeyed. Consequences could include detention, after hours, turning in phones to the office each morning, or even keeping a phone in the office until parents come to pick it up. 

“This policy will be hard to adjust to but it is a great chance for peers to interact with those around them and for social skills to build,” Christensen said.