As a bill to restrict cell phone use in schools moves through the Illinois legislature, one Metro East district is considering changes to its own policy for the 2025-26 school year.
Currently, Collinsville High School students may use devices in the classroom for educational purposes with teacher permission, during passing periods, before school and at lunch.
At its May meeting, the Collinsville Community Unit School District 10 board might change this policy, requiring that high school students have their cell phones off and put away during instructional time and passing periods.
“The more students are on their phones, the less engaged they are,” Superintendent Brad Skertich said. “That is a constant distraction, so we’re trying to limit it.”
Even if the board adopts the new policy, high school students would still be able to use their electronic devices before school and during lunch, Skertich said. The proposal also specifies that students cannot have Meta AI smart glasses in the school during the school day.
Skertich said the proposed policy has been discussed with the CHS Student Advisory Board, and high school administrators have been speaking with teachers and departments.
He added that the middle school currently has the off and out of sight rule in place. Middle schoolers are not allowed to use their cell phones during lunch, and this will not change next year either, Skertich said.
Skertich said the district has been looking to change its cell phone stance for almost a year, and recent developments out of Springfield have only fueled that process.
In early February, a bill that would ban the use of cell phones and other wireless communication devices during instructional time was introduced in the state Senate.
As it’s currently written, the bill, titled SB2427, provides for certain exceptions, such as when a physician says a student needs their device for medical reasons or when a teacher authorizes the use for educational purposes.
The bill passed in the Senate with a unanimous vote and is currently awaiting being heard in its assigned House committee.
As the Collinsville school district starts enforcing its new cell phone policy, whatever that may ultimately look like, it may be adjusted depending on how the implementation goes, Skertich said.
The district’s next board meeting is at 6:30 p.m. on May 19, 2025, at the Administrative Annex, 123 West Clay St. in Collinsville.
Editor's note: This story was originally published by the Belleville News-Democrat. Madison Lammert is a reporter for the BND, a news partner of St. Louis Public Radio.
