Central Ohio schools report positive changes after total phone ban ...Middle East

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Halfway through the fall semester, local school districts report positive effects of new phone bans.

By Jan. 1, all 611 of Ohio's public school districts are required to implement phone bans throughout the school day, including during lunch and between classes. As districts enter the second nine-week block of the fall semester, local administrators report increased student interaction and positive reactions to the bans. See previous coverage of the cellphone ban in the video player above.

Districts were already required to have some form of policy on the books, and many schools opted to update their policies at the start of the year to be fully compliant with state law, rather than waiting until January. Among districts with previous partial bans, administrators said compliance may be easier without opportunities for use at lunch.

Full compliance includes total bans throughout the school day, with many districts directing students to power off their phones and place them in a locker or backpack. Most of these policies offer exceptions for students with medical or disability plans that require cellphone use or monitoring, and during emergencies.

New Albany-Plain administrators said students are interacting with one another more at lunch without phones, a positive effect reported across districts. Franklin Heights High School Principal Tim Donahue said the energy at his South Western City Schools building is palpable with the ban.

"There is generally a more positive vibe in the classrooms, halls and cafeterias as a result of the change," Donahue said. "Last year when we implemented the policies just for the classroom, grades went up across the board."

Donahue said Franklin Heights, within the South Western City School District, has also seen a direct correlation between phone bans and better student behavior. He said there are fewer disruptions, and fewer issues that begin on phones or social media and seep into day-to-day learning.

Districts are also seeing unexpected positive changes. Westerville City Schools said the biggest change has happened within district media centers and libraries. A district spokesperson said more books were checked out of high school libraries in the first quarter than all of last year combined

To help students adjust to no phones during lunch, districts are adding new opportunities to connect during free periods. In the South Western district, Westland High School students are enjoying LEGO science and math building projects after they finish lunch.

At South Western's Norton Middle School, educators implemented the Final15 program. If students efficiently get through lunch lines, eat and clean up, they enjoy a 15-minute social on the school's track.

Whitehall-Yearling Principal Maria Boyarko opened up the gym at lunch so students can play sports and stay entertained screen-free. Whitehall, like many districts, had phone bans in place previously, but extended them to be fully compliant with the law this year. Boyarko estimates 98% of students are in compliance with the ban this year, up from last school year.

Whitehall's Rosemore Middle School has also seen high compliance, and teachers report increased engagement in class. Rosemore Principal Jason Mumaw said the school's focus on culture helped decrease phone violations, as did the new state law.

“We are changing the culture here, and it’s made everything easier,” Mumaw said.

The bans aren't without growing pains, but district leaders remained optimistic. Districts said students were more likely to violate policies in the first few weeks, but are adjusting quickly. Corey Grubbs, chief transformation and leadership officer at Columbus City Schools, said students and families are working to adjust, but are already responding positively.

"We are confident that this will lead to fewer distractions in classrooms and an increased focus on instruction and peer interaction," Grubbs said. "While any new policy takes time to fully implement, our schools remain committed to helping students adapt successfully.”

Donahue said he has also seen violations, especially during the first few weeks, but implementing new policies is "worth the extra effort for our students." He said both parents and students are on board with the changes.

"Parents and students recognize how overly reliant our youth have become with regard to being connected at all times and have welcomed the efforts to help our youth become more 'present' in school and in the classroom," Donahue said.

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