New Cell Phone Ban In Place On First Day Back In Middletown Schools

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — As students filed back in for the first day of school Tuesday in Middletown, the district has now passed its "cell phone ban" policy.

The public can read Middletown's "Away for the Day" cell phone ban policy here. It is the first time the school district has ever passed such a measure.

Board vice president Jacqueline Tobacco, among other BOE members, was adamant about passing the ban, in part to address the problem of bullying in the Middletown school district: The Middletown community is still grappling with the death of Jocelyn Walters, the 14-year-old Middletown North sophomore who took her own life in a suicide on Sept. 9, 2022, just days after the school year started.

This June, Jocelyn's grieving parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Middletown school district, alleging their daughter was the victim of "extended bullying" at the hands of fellow Middletown teen girls, mostly on social media and in group texts. They say teen girls bullied their daughter on anonymous social media sites known as "MHSN Clowns," "Confessions" and in groupchats with other teen girls.

In fact, the policy was written in such a way to specifically state that "any student found to be using social media on a cell phone or mobile device during the school day to comment about or share photos or videos of any other person will be disciplined. If a cell phone is used in any way to embarrass, demean, bully, harass, intimidate or otherwise violate the privacy or safety of another person, whether on campus during the school day or after school hours/off campus," the student can lose cell phone privileges for five days, and be disciplined by the district.

This means that even if a student uses their phones to bully someone off campus, or at home, they can still be disciplined in school.

Here are the new rules:

For elementary and middle school students:

• Cell phones and all mobile devices shall be TURNED OFF when entering school campus.
• Cell phones shall be kept in a student’s backpack, teacher-designated location in the classroom or locker – not in clothing pockets.
• Cell phones are not allowed to be used in a classroom, library, locker room, common areas, hallways, cafeteria, gymnasium, all-purpose room or restrooms.
• Cell phones and all mobile devices can be turned back on at the end-of-school bell and used to communicate directly with parents/friends who are assisting in transportation.

• Cell phones are not allowed to be used during transition times or between classes.
• If a student needs to communicate with a parent or guardian during the day, he or she may come to the office with teacher or staff permission and may use their personal device under the supervision of school administration/staff.

For Middletown high school students:

• They can keep their cell phones on their person throughout the school day. However, all cell phones and all mobile devices shall be TURNED OFF during educational/instructional time. This time includes not only traditional classes but physical education class, specials, assemblies, and other similar time periods throughout the day as may be further defined by the regulations implementing this policy. This restriction shall apply from "bell to bell."

● Cell phones and all mobile devices are not allowed to be used in a locker room or restrooms at any time.
● Any student found to be using social media on a cell phone or mobile device during the school day to comment about or share photos or videos of any other person, or in any other manner deemed to be detrimental to the District’s educational, developmental, social, or emotional objectives, will be disciplined. Said disciplinary action must include, but is not limited to, loss of cell phone/electronic device privileges for a period of time to be determined by school administration, but no less than 5 days of school.

For all students:

● A cell phone or other personal electronic device used in violation of this policy will be confiscated by a school staff member or principal or designee and the student will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action as set forth in the Student Handbook and/or Code of Conduct. Said disciplinary action may be up to and including loss of use of cell phone/electronic device privileges for the rest of the semester or school year.
● If a cell phone or other personal electronic device is used in any way to embarrass, demean, bully, harass, intimidate, or otherwise violate the privacy or safety of another person, whether on campus during the school day or after school hours/off campus, the offending student shall lose the privilege of bringing his or her cell phone to school for a period of time to be determined by school administration, but no less than 5 days of school, in addition to any other disciplinary action.

Previously this summer: Middletown Has A Problem With Bullying: School Board Member (July 5)

Not All Agree With Middletown's Proposed Cell Phone 'Ban' In Schools (July 3)

Middletown Board Of Ed. Introduces Cell Phone Ban In Schools (June 26)

Parents Of Bullied Girl Who Died By Suicide Sue Middletown District (June 14)