Hinsdale D86 Phone Crackdown May Be On Way

DARIEN, IL – Hinsdale High School District 86 is still looking at banning students from taking phones into classrooms.

On Wednesday, Superintendent Michael Lach said officials plan to present the issue to the school board in April.

He noted Gov. JB Pritzker recently proposed a statewide ban on cellphones in classrooms – an increasingly popular idea across the country.

"I think he is a little late to the game," Lach said at a board meeting.

A local ban has been under consideration at least since the fall.

Now, District 86 requires students to keep their devices powered off or silenced and out of sight during classes. The policy gives principals flexibility for a stricter policy.

Hinsdale Central's and South's principals estimate about 80 percent of teachers have policies on phones, often requiring students to keep their devices in cubbyholes, according to the district.

But some teachers don't enforce any type of phone policy because they feel they don't need to, Lack told the board last fall.