At the start of the school year next month, seventh and eighth grade students will not be permitted to possess or use cellular phones during the school day in the East Lycoming School District.

With support for Richard Reichner, junior high school principal, Dr. Mark Stamm, superintendent of schools, said the revision to the electronic devices policy was due to “persistent disruptions to the learning environment and ongoing disciplinary/bullying issues between students that arise from cell phone use during the school day.”

Scott Ritter, a board member, voted against the revision – which was recommended by the Pennsylvania Department of Education – claiming the policy is “no good,” and strongly advocated for a stronger policy to be in place, including a ban on smart watches.

It was a board-approved revision to the policy that was adopted in 2010 and last reviewed in 2012. New Pennsylvania School Boards Association policy is more streamlined and removes antiquated terms and language.

The substance of the policy remains the same, prohibiting use of electronic devices in private areas of the school and defers the use/restrictions to building administration through handbooks as developmentally appropriate, Stamm said.

No changes will be made for grades nine through 12. Students in grades seven and eight will put their cell phones in their lockers at the start of the day.

Additionally, for that grade level of students, smart watches are permitted unless they are being used as a cell phone, Stamm said.

“We are so far behind on this policy and now we are coming to the table,” Ritter said. “Now we are coming to the table late and we’re coming to the table in an extremely limited capacity.”

Ritter suggested smart watches be banned for all grades and that they create a “wealth to poverty barrier.”

“It’s an extra cost to have a smart watch,” he said. “Some of your students (who come from affluent families) are going to have smart watches,” he said. For those who are not, “they are going to want them.”

“At a minimum, I’d like to see smart watches banned,” Ritter said. Smart watches can do everything a cell phone can – text, game, social media, he added.

“I would say for this policy, if you read it, we are giving the power to the administration,” Ritter said. “So if an elementary school (administrator) wants to allow cell phone use for their recess, they can with this policy.”

“That is not a change from the current policy,” Stamm said to the board and the parents present and students who will be updated for clarification purposes. “The administration will determine the use of cell phones,” he said.

“Yes, and over the past year I have spoken out about this policy,” Ritter said. “I think the current policy is no good.”

Ritter acknowledged it was a step in the right direction, but such a small step, especially when the U.S. surgeon general continues to have health-related concerns about their use.

Over a dozen states have bans (in schools), he said.

He also cited the example of Montoursville School District, which has a cell phone bag policy, he said.

“They are absolutely a distraction in a learning environment,” Stamm said, not disagreeing with Ritter’s passionate advocacy.

There is a sense of their acceptance in the broader community and that conversation should start with families, Stamm said. For example, “What restrictions does a school district place on the family?” Stamm asked.

“I’m not arguing what it (cell phone technology) does,” Stamm said. “I agree it is a distraction for kids,” he said. “I also think it is a community conversation . . . they will have cell phones in college and for their entire lives.”

Stamm also said he did not want to put the district in a position where he, administrators and teachers become “cell phone police.”

Stamm said he is keenly aware of the policy in place in nearby school districts.

“I also look at the local school districts who have adopted cell phone bans. I speak to those superintendents and we are watching how that turns out,” Stamm said.

To board member Rebecca Yerg what was passed is a “good start,” a policy revision that can be reviewed and revisited in the future.