Students advocating for lenient cellphone policy in San Mateo Union High School District

Under consideration is whether phones should be banned for the entire school day, including breaks and lunch, otherwise referred to as a “bell-to-bell” ban, or if they should only be restricted during instructional class time. Students think the latter will suffice. 

The district’s Student Board Council sent a letter to staff and trustees advocating for a non-bell-to-bell policy with “consistent and humane” enforcement. 

The ideal policy “protects instructional time, respects student dignity, preserves safety and avoids unintended inequities,” Student Trustee Catherine Tsao, a junior at Aragon High School, said at the board’s meeting Tuesday.

It also would establish protocols for emergency situations, outline exceptions and reconfigure appropriate consequences for violators, the letter read. 

San Mateo Union High School District has long paid attention to the impact of cellphones — one campus, San Mateo High School, implemented a bell-to-bell ban seven years ago — but the effort to solidify a districtwide policy was just recently required by state law ahead of the upcoming school year. 

In a presentation to the Board of Trustees in early February, Superintendent Randall Booker proposed a policy that closely aligned with what students are seeking. However, parents and members of a task force focused on cellphone use were adamant a bell-to-bell restriction was the most logical way forward. 

To students, a bell-to-bell ban was unnecessary for high schoolers who should learn to responsibly use their devices and consume social media. 

“Students make their own choices in being distracted by their phones,” Student Trustee Joshua Lee, a sophomore at Aragon High School, said. 

The letter sent to board members elaborates further and states that “teaching and enforcing norms that encourage responsible use respects student agency while protecting instructional time.” 

Students at Burlingame High School said restricting access to cellphones undermines their ability to “handle ourselves.” The school’s policy is currently to put cellphones in clear pouches at the start of each class and retrieve them before leaving. 

“We know what needs to get done to get our grades, we know what needs to get done to be good students,” Serena Koopmans said.

Another point made in the letter said current school policies, like the one at Burlingame High School, have largely proven to be effective. Consistency across classrooms and campuses, though, would amplify that effectiveness. 

“The key gap is consistent enforcement: where staff apply the policy reliably, distractions fall dramatically,” the letter reads. 

At San Mateo High School, students put their cellphones in an electronically locked pouch, Yondr, which keeps kids from accessing their phones unless they are unlocked in a designated area. Each student has their own Yondr and keeps it on their person.

A Yondr pouch may not be the final answer — there have been many instances of students breaking the pouches and they’re costly to repair each year — but the program has been effective at the campus, and teachers love it, Principal Yvonne Shiu said previously.

The bell-to-bell ban has shown to not only increase focus in the classroom, but also promote socializing outside with no interference of phones, Shiu said.

While trustees have voiced favor for limiting cellphone use — and want at least a formal ban during class time — they agreed there’s benefit to letting each school campus decide its degree of restriction.

Trustees largely shared their appreciation for the student input and said it will further inform their decision later this month. 

“It was very thoughtful and very thorough, it definitely changes some of my thoughts, so I really appreciate it,” Trustee Ligia Andrade Zúñiga said. 

Data from a survey for students, teachers and staff will be presented to the board and public on March 26. During this meeting, trustees will discuss refining the districtwide policy.