Milford HS Pushes For Stricter Cellphone Policy

MILFORD, MA- Milford High School may be cracking down on student cellphone usage soon.

Principal Joshua Otlin sent an email to parents describing cellphone use in the school as having "negative impacts" on student learning and classroom culture. Otlin added that the policies and practices in place have not been effective and significant changes to the policy are being considered.

The high school's cellphone policy prohibits the use of phones in the classroom, library, computer labs, auditorium, or offices and specifies that phones cannot be visible. However, students are allowed to use their phones during lunch periods and during their four minute walks to classes. In Otlin's letter he suggested expanding the ban to include headphones and airpods and exclude cellphone use from the hallways as well.

Principal Otlin said the goal is not to ban phones from the building and there will be opportunities to use phones- just not during classtime. "We believe that students should be able to use cellphones during lunch and passing, as well as before school and after school," Otlin said.

Otlin mentioned increasing the severity of consequences but did not offer specific examples. According to this year's Student-Parent handbook, there are varying degrees of consequence depending on how many times a student has been caught with a phone. First time offenders can expect a verbal warning. If the student is caught again, the punishment is teacher detention. A third offense forces the student to give up their cellphone to the office and a parent/guardian must pick it up; students are not allowed to get their own phones at the end of the day.

"We believe that we need to completely reset norms about cellphone use in school so that teachers can focus on teaching and students can focus on learning," Otlin said.

A new policy has not been proposed yet and Otlin said in his letter that before the administration brings a proposal to the School Committee, the high school will hold a discussion night for parents and students to voice their opinions.

The meeting will be held from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium on Feb. 27.

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