Salem Seeks To Silence School Smart Phone Use

SALEM, MA — Salem students are going to have to put away their smart phones.

Superintendent Steve Zrike said this week a letter to families will go home informing them that the district will increase its enforcement of school policy that prevents the use of cell phones and smart phones during the school day.

Zrike said the increased use of phones while in class has been especially disruptive within middle school and upper elementary grades this school year.

"We expect that there will be no cell phones in use during the school day," Zrike said. "It is proving to be a distraction. Particularly after a year where students did not have an opportunity to socialize and interact, we want to focus on the ability to do so in schools."

Zrike said any family that feels the need to have their student bring a phone to school should make sure the phone is kept silent and put away in a secure location during the school day.

In an emergency, he said families are advised to reach students by calling their respective school's main office. Students are also advised to go to the main office if they need to contact parents or guardians.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)