Supporting Student Wellness: Cell Free Spaces in Middle & High Schools

• As students enter school, they place their phone, smartwatch, etc. in their assigned pouch.

• Students close and secure their pouch manually and keep it with them throughout the day.

• When leaving school, students tap their pouch on a base unit to unlock it and have access to their devices. After emptying their pouch at the end of the day we recommend locking it again to avoid having something locked in the pouch while at home.

• More information on how it works

NCSD is committed to student wellness and success. Recent surveys from our North Clackamas students indicate that cell phone use negatively impacts grades, relationships, and mental health. 

• 86% of NCSD students report using phones during class.

• 36% of NCSD students report being distracted by other students’ use of phones.

• 49% of NCSD students report cell phones have negatively impacted their grades.

• 47% of NCSD students report cell phones have negatively impacted their mental health.

• 24% and 23% of NCSD students report cell phones have negatively impacted their relationships with family and friends respectively.

NCSD has tried this approach. Research shows that it has been ineffective nationwide, as it has also been in our district. There is an unneeded relationship strain between the adults who are trying to follow the rules and the students who are trying to get to their devices. Issues of addiction play into this dynamic. The pouches will reinforce the policy and support students in managing the temptation of having students and all of their friends have access to their devices during the school day. Furthermore, the pouches will contribute to a sense of community in which all students will experience the same environment while also learning about the balance of phone use and their wellbeing.

During the first week of school, on Friday, September 6th, students will receive a pouch during one of their classes along with a lesson about why and how to use the pouch. The pouch is property of the school.

Upon entering school, students will place their phone, smart watch, and other phone-like devices in the pouch. When leaving the building at the end of the day there will be unlocking stations set out throughout each school’s campus.

Just like current practice, students keep their phone with them during the day.

We will have unlocking stations in the office for students that have verified absences or verified early releases.

All students have access to chromebooks with email. One option is to plan ahead by giving timely check-ins such as updating after school plans. A guardian may say “check your email by 2:00pm and confirm you got it by emailing back.” Students and parents can email one another during the day. For emergency and timely issues parents can call the office and we can deliver messages or bring students to the office for any communication needs.

School safety experts share that students having access to cell phones during school emergencies can negatively impact student safety for a variety of reasons. For example:

• Student use of cell phones during an emergency can distract their attention from the critical safety and emergency directions given by staff.

• Cell phone use by students during an emergency often results in inaccurate or incomplete information and, in doing so, may disrupt and delay effective public safety response.

• Cell phone use by students can impede site safety by accelerating parental and community arrival at the scene of an emergency during times when officials may be attempting to evacuate students to another site.

• Student cell phone use during an emergency may overload cell tower capacity, limiting critical school and first responder communication.

Once students are safe, pouches can be unlocked via multiple handheld unlocking devices, to make contact with family members. In cases of immediate crisis, pouches can be unlocked by any means necessary. 

Communication with parents will continue to occur through the district’s mass notification and communication tools.

For pouches that are damaged, replacement pouches can be made available. For excessive damage due to inappropriate use or vandalism (such as cutting, ripping, or puncturing the pouch) incidents will be handled on a case by case basis.

Phones will be held in the office for students that don’t bring their pouch. We will have locked cabinets for students.

Students with notes from their medical professionals can be issued a medical device bag which can ensure access to their phone is more readily available than the normal pouches. Like all medical protocols, we will work with students and families to ensure medical needs are taken care of.

Chromebooks have access to music with wired headsets. Bluetooth devices should be held in the pouch and not be out. When it is appropriate, students can still have access to music.

Schools have many after school programs and athletic events. Students are welcome to return if the building is open to unlock their device.

NCSD has issued chromebooks to every student taking the educational need for phones away. Academic benefits that come from phones are also available on the district issued chromebooks.

Pouches still allow for cell service. We know many families use tracking devices to ensure the location of their students. This will still be available even when the phone is in the pouch.

Mostly, the policy will remain off and away and pouches will remain locked. On most trips we will bring unlocking devices in the event that cell phones are needed.

For students attending Sabin Schellenberg the expectations will still be that phones are kept off and away on the trip to and from Sabin Schellenberg. Sabin Schellenberg will have access to unlocking stations just like all of our neighborhood schools in the event that students have emergencies or have a verified absence from a Sabin Schellenberg class.

The dangers of access to phones while driving, especially with limited time to get from one class to another, far outweighs the benefits of having a phone accessible during driving. We encourage all students to utilize district transportation to and from Sabin Schellenberg classes.

Once the bell rings at the end of the day all students will have access to unlocking stations regardless of if they are staying for after school activities or not.

No, not at this time. Elementary schools will continue to be no-phone spaces but there are no current plans to introduce pouches to elementary.