BCPS Debuts New Cell Phone Rules, Security Measures, Therapy Services

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — Baltimore County Public Schools students will have new cell phone rules, extra security and more mental health support when they return on Monday.

Students at 16 schools will keep their phones in clear pouches during class this year, WYPR reported.

WYPR said these schools volunteered to participate in the $15,000 trial run, which will compare before-and-after cell phone discipline data:

• Towson High School
• Lansdowne High School
• Lansdowne Middle School
• Loch Raven Technical Academy
• Patapsco High School & Center for the Arts
• Sparrows Point High School
• New Town High School
• Deep Creek Middle School
• Franklin Middle School
• Holabird STEM/Middle School
• Pine Grove Middle School
• Sollers Point Technical High School
• Perry Hall High School
• Hereford High School
• Parkville High School
• General John Stricker Middle School

"Smartphones and school time simply do not mix," BCPS Superintendent Myriam Rogers said at a Tuesday press conference announcing the pilot program, according to WYPR. "At the very basic level, if you are focused on technology in the classroom, you're not focused on the teacher and the learning that needs to occur there."

Schools also upgraded their security recently.

BCPS installed an open gate detection system this summer for use at high school games and at the county's two alternative schools, WMAR reported.

WMAR said the school system also launched Omnilert, a 7,000-camera system using artificial intelligence to identify guns in or outside buildings.

"Society has changed," Rogers said, according to WMAR. "We need to have extra layers of support, we want students to just feel like students and enjoy their school experience ... Omnilert is one of those tools that allows us to do that."

The Baltimore Sun reported that Omnilert cost $2.6 million.

Rogers said the system is using state money to contract eight mental health firms to provide therapy and other resources to over 100 schools, The Sun reported.

The Sun said BCPS will also continue its two-year, $1.8 million contract with Talkspace, a free therapy messaging app for students 13 and older.

The Sun said BCPS also hired six more athletic trainers, bringing it to 18 full-time trainers for its 24 athletic programs.

Related: BCPS Teacher Hiring Push Includes Pay Raise Before School Year Starts