Branford High bans cellphones in class

BRANFORD — Students at Branford High School studentsno longer will be allowed to bring cellphones, Apple Watches, AirPods or and other electronic devices into the classroom as of Monday.

Principal Lee Panagoulias Jr. made the announcement in a letter to parents this week. The effort is to help foster “improved learning for everyone,” he said, and is part of the school's goal of “effective management” of device use.

The ban on electronic devices in class will continue through rest of the school year and will be in effect next school year, according Panagoulias.

“Student cellphone use in class impacts our school goal of supporting a high level of instruction and experiences for all BHS students and maintaining a positive learning environment that is responsive and respectful of the needs of every student,” Panagoulias said in his letter.

So far, parent and student reactions have been mixed, he said.

“There has been a wide range of reactions from students and parents, but no matter the reaction, I know that we all still share the same goal to support a safe and positive learning,” Panagoulias said.

What prompted the new rule, he said, was a discussion among the leadership team and staff about cellphone use in class. “We view it as a nationwide trend we should discuss because it impacts student learning and wellness,” he said.

According to the new policy, students will be required to hand over their devices to the teacher, who will keep them in a schoolapproved storage device and return them after class.

Students will use their school-issued Chromebook for class.

In case of an emergency, “Parents and guardians should continue to contact the BHS front office,” Panagoulias said.

Students will not be given back their devices when they get permission to use the restroom, according to the letter.

However, “Students in an assigned study hall have access to cellphones and electronic devices in accordance with district appropriate use policies,” the letter stated, “but they must be placed in a storage device provided by the teacher when they are given permission to leave the classroom.”

“Cellphones and electronic devices (AirPods, Apple Watch) may be used in between classes and during lunch in accordance with district appropriate use policies,” the letter continued.

VIOLATIONS

If a student violates the new policy, the letter outlines a punitive process.

For the first offense, a “conversation between student and teacher to review

BHS cellphone and electronic device expectations to understand the impact of the student's action on their learning and classroom environment,” according to the letter.

In the case of a first referral (in-class), the parent/ guardian will be contacted by the teacher to review the cellphone policy and to “understand the impact of the student's action on their learning and classroom environment,” Panagoulias said. The teacher also will issue an after-school detention.

In the case of the second referral (from teacher to administration), the phone will be turned over to the teacher, and a parent or guardian must pick up the device from the administration office, the letter said. There will be a one-week cellphone restriction on school grounds.

In the case of a third referral, “a support plan” will be developed with administration and support services staff and will include a two-week phone restriction and potential in-school suspension.

“As we continue to work together, we ask that you help us to emphasize to your students the importance of adhering to our cellphone expectations,” Panagoulias said. “The partnership that exists between BHS families and our school is an essential piece of helping our students' growth over time.”

“Our school goal is to support high level instruction and experiences for all BHS students,” he said in an email. “The leadership team saw this as an opportunity to have a staff discussion about the impact of in-class cellphone availability on our ability to achieve that goal.”