Student Cellphone Ban At Moorestown Schools Moves Forward

MOORESTOWN, NJ — The Moorestown School District plans to ban student cellphone use starting next school year.

The policy, introduced at Tuesday's school board meeting, would require elementary and middle school students to keep their phones off and store them in their backpack, cubbie or locker for the entire school day.

High school students would be allowed to use their phones between classes and at lunch. But during class, they would have to turn off or silence their devices and keep them in a backpack, locker or a teacher-designated collection area in the classroom.

The board voted to approve the policy Tuesday on first reading, with a second and final vote expected next month.

A growing number of states and school districts throughout the country have restricted students from using cellphones during school.

In New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy has pushed for statewide restrictions during his final year in office. Some districts, like Cherry Hill's, have implemented their own bans.

Moorestown's proposed policy states, "Research shows that use of personal electronic communication devices or smart devices in schools has negative effects on academic performance, focus, and mental health."

District officials have discussed potential phone restrictions for about a year, said Board Member Claudine Morano.

"It helped to see what other districts have done and even when the state came out with ideas and recommendations," Morano said at Tuesday's school board meeting. "It kind of helped us reform where we were going."

The policy carves out exceptions for students with individualized education or health plans (IEPs or IHPs) who have permission and documentation to use their phones to address a health condition or disability. Students who are first responders can also use them if they have written confirmation that they may need to respond to emergencies during school hours.

Additionally, teachers can allow students to use phones or smart devices for "legitimate instructional purposes," such as recording lessons.

If a student needs to make a call during class, they can do so on a school phone or their own device with permission from school personnel.

Smartwatches must have notifications turned off and can only be used for timekeeping.

Lisa Trapani, a Moorestown High School teacher, said Tuesday that she welcomes the district restricting cellphone use and looked forward to examining the district's proposal.

But the restrictions also need parental support, she says.

"It's a battle that, quite frankly, as educators, we cannot do," Trapani said. "So it has to require more support from parents saying, ‘You do not need the phone. I do not need to contact you.'"

Local parent Jamie Kastner urged the board to give high schoolers the same restrictions as younger students and prohibit them from using their phones at any point in the school day. Kastner organizes local efforts for the Wait Until 8th pledge, a national initiative encouraging parents to delay giving their children a smartphone until they finish eighth grade.

"While I appreciate the intention behind the policy to provide boundaries while still giving students some access to their devices," Kastner said, "I believe we're not going far enough to truly support their academic success and well-being."

Once in effect, the district plans to monitor how it goes and make changes if necessary, says Superintendent Dr. Courtney McNeely.

"We'll have to get the student voice and get feedback from the staff on how the enforcement's going and make sure that we really stay on top of it," McNeely said, "especially in the first year of implementation."

The proposed policy starts on Page 123 of the meeting's agenda packet.