As the winter break approaches for Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools, students, educators and staff have now had their first semester with the new cellphone policy.<\/p>\n
CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW<\/a>) \u2013 As the winter break approaches for Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools, students, educators and staff have now had their first semester with the new cellphone policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n Earlier this year, the CMCSS School Board adopted a \u201cblackout\u201d policy that bans students from using cellphones during the school day. Four months into the new school year and cellphone policy, and students appear to be less distracted. But that doesn\u2019t mean they like it.<\/p>\n \u201cThere have also been less distractions during class time,\u201d student School Board member Elijah Fuller told Clarksville Now. \u201cLikely because students are fearful of the punishment for having a cellphone out. The main consensus is that students don\u2019t like the new policy, even if it benefits them.\u201d<\/p>\n Cellphone \u2018blackout\u2019 during school day<\/p>\n On April 1, Gov. Bill Lee\u00a0signed a bill into law that requires school boards<\/a>\u00a0to adopt a more stringent policy that prohibits students from using \u201cwireless communication devices\u201d during instructional time, except in certain circumstances.<\/p>\n The previous cellphone policy was more relaxed, entrusting the responsibility of policy enforcement to school administrators. Violations of the previous policy were considered a Category 1 offense, which are typically handled at the classroom level by the teacher. The range of consequences included detention or in-school suspension for one to three days.<\/p>\n But some board members argued the previous policy left too much room for distractions, and some students were even organizing fights captured on cellphone video as a result. Other board members argued that cellphones were necessary in creating a safe environment for students in case of emergencies where students had to flee the school.<\/p>\n | DON\u2019T MISS A LOCAL STORY: Sign up for the free daily Clarksville Now email newsletter<\/a><\/p>\n On May 21, the board approved an overhaul of the cellphone policy that specifically prohibits students from having cellphones and electronic devices out in class or in the hallways during passing periods. Students are required to have their phones turned off or put on silent and out of sight for the entire instructional day.<\/p>\n It also shifted the severity of the offense from a Category 1 to Category 2, which\u00a0results in a discipline referral by a school administrator or designee. Repeated violations could lead to out-of-school suspension or up to five days of administrative detention. Additionally, staff and teachers have the ability to confiscate phones.<\/p>\n CMCSS families and educators \u2018mostly positive\u2019 response<\/p>\n While students may not like it, according to CMCSS, the new policy has been well-received by teachers and parents.<\/p>\n \u201cOverall, the response from both families and educators has been positive,\u201d CMCSS spokesman Anthony Johnson said. \u201cMost schools previously had some iteration of the current policy, with the previous district policy prohibiting use during instructional time.\u201d<\/p>\n Johnson cited growing research on the harmful effects of student cellphone usage in schools:<\/p>\n Negative impacts on student performance and mental health due to distractions that result in smaller learning gains and lower test scores, and higher levels of depression and anxiety.<\/p>\n Cellphones have been used for making threats, cyberbullying, fights and other school safety disruption.<\/p>\n Use of cellphones during an unfolding emergency can distract students from directions being given by school staff.<\/p>\n According to recent studies, when cellphones are banned from schools, learning improves, distractions decrease and students are more likely to engage in conversation with one another.<\/p>\n While no changes to the current policy have been considered for the next school year, Johnson said \u201cCMCSS will collect feedback on the Student Code of Conduct, which includes the cellphone policy, from all stakeholders next semester to provide the School Board with valuable feedback to inform any changes to the Student Code of Conduct for 2026-2027.\u201d<\/p>\n Johnson emphasized that CMCSS\u2019 policy is in compliance with the new state law.<\/p>\n Students don\u2019t like new policy \u2018even if it benefits them\u2019<\/p>\n While parents and teachers seem to appreciate the new strictness around cellphones, students don\u2019t quite share the sentiment.<\/p>\n Fuller, newly elected by his student peers as the first CMCSS student School Board member, told Clarksville Now he has noticed more conversations among students this year and fewer distractions during class time. However, Fuller said, compliance is only coming from the fear of punishment.<\/p>\n \u201cI agree that cellphones are a distraction for students, but I fully understand where my fellow students are coming from and even share some of their ideas,\u201d Fuller said. \u201cMany students have trouble communicating with others \u2013 likely due to isolation resulting from our formative years being during the COVID pandemic.<\/p>\n \u201cSocietally, our phones have become a way to manage stress or avoid social discomfort,\u201d he said. \u201cMany of my peers, and even myself, find that music can improve their focus while learning. Additionally, there is research that suggests my generation is one of the most anxious; and large, crowded hallways can be very overstimulating. Yet again, music assists with managing the stress of these situations.\u201d<\/p>\n