With pending legislation working its way around the Illinois legislature, many school districts in the state have either enacted new or have upgraded existing cell phone use policies for the new school year. Illinois Senate Bill 2427 as of June 1 was referred to the Rules Committee. The bill states that “on or before the 2026-2027 school year, each school board shall adopt and implement a wireless communication device policy that: (1) prohibits a student from using a wireless communication device during instructional time, except as otherwise provided; and (2) includes guidance for secure and accessible storage of wireless devices during instructional time.” During Thursday night’s Vandalia School Board meeting, board members heard some options for ways that the district can make further changes to current policy at Vandalia Jr. High and Vandalia High School. Right now, Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Garrison says they are in a research and discussion phase.
And Garrison says they are set to form a committee and want to hear feedback from parents and students.
VCHS Assistant Principal Michael Mabry and VJHS Assistant Principal Brian Holliday have been leading research on possible policy changes and presented to the board some options they found that schools have went to including Yondr pouches that students could secure phones in for the day that would be unlocked at the end of the school day as well as cases that could be mounted in the main hallway for students to lock their phones in during the day that would be unlocked by administration at the end of the school day. Several school board members expressed that they were on the fence about the different possibilities at this point including those presented during the meeting as they all agreed more discussion and research is needed and welcomed going forward this school year.
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