New cell phone policy bans phones in Billings Public Schools classrooms

BILLINGS — All Billings Public Schools will implement a more stringent cellphone policy at the start of the new school year.

Some teachers may choose to place a calculator container or locked box at the front of the classroom.

The school board decided to implement a district-wide cellphone policy on July 15, 2024. The policy — known as 8320 — was approved by a vote of 5-2.

“Students are not allowed to use their cell phones during class, and they are allowed to use them between classes, during lunch, before and after school,” said Gordon Klasna, the district’s executive director of secondary education.

Klasna helped design the policy for the board. Some community members, such as grandfather Steve Tobin, support the decision.

School cell phone cases — Student puts cell phone in signal blocking case.

“I see a lot of kids who seem to be very distracted by their cell phone,” he said.

But many students see the policy very differently, including high school seniors Maya Simeon and Kyrie Blades.

“Even on the medical side, for example, I have friends who are diabetic and have to check their blood sugar on their phone,” Simeon said.

“I don’t think it’s changed much, honestly. Because they tried to enforce that phone policy last year, and it never got implemented. Teachers didn’t enforce it. Kids were putting in old cell phones,” Blades said.

Students holding phones — Students holding cell phones.

Some parents also said they would like to be able to contact their children during school hours. Although many said they agreed with Klasna that cell phones affect students’ ability to learn.

“We are focused on educating our students and hope that our parents will cooperate with us in this,” Klasna said.

It’s a change that will certainly be a topic of conversation, especially with the next school year just around the corner.

Below is Policy 8320:

MOBILE PHONES

Billings Public Schools advises students NOT to bring cell phones or electronic devices to school and is not responsible for devices that are lost or stolen, even if placed in a classroom container or other storage system during class. Please also note that the school may revoke a student’s cell phone privileges and require that the phone be returned upon arrival and not returned until dismissed from class due to inappropriate use of the phone on campus.

K-5
Cell phones are not allowed during school hours. Students’ cell phones must be turned off and placed in backpacks until they leave the school building at the end of the day.

6-8
Cell phones are not allowed during school hours. Phones and wearable devices such as Apple Watches, Air Pods, and similar devices must be turned off and stored in lockers during school hours.

9-12
Cell phones and other personal electronic devices may not be used during classes, educational or otherwise. All cell phones should be placed in the school’s cell phone locker during classes. Devices may only be used before and after school, during free time, or at lunch.

Parents can call the office and the information will be passed on to the students.

Billings Public Schools