Phone usage in schools is a commonly debated topic, especially among students, teachers and parents. Next school year, 2025-2026, Salida High School, along with the Salida Middle School and Elementary School, will be implementing a new phone policy. The phone policy was designed to be as clear and concise as possible. From eight to four during the school day, students should not have their phones visible. If a student’s phone is seen by any member of the staff, the phone will be immediately confiscated and will only be returned to parents at the end of the day. The goal of releasing phones to only parents is to involve the community and parents.
Salida High School’s Dean of Students, Abigail Cooksey explained, “I think parents want the support from the school and we want the support from the parents.”
The new phone policy was inspired in part by similar policies being utilized by other schools in Colorado and around the nation, and in part by concerns from community members. Cooksey explained that the school board and the Department of Public Health have been collaborating with the school to get feedback from the public in surveys and community events. There has been overwhelming support for new phone policies from the community. Other schools in the United States have also been encouraging stricter phone policies. As Cooksey said, “I think what we’re seeing is the beginnings of the national trend.” The plan is hoped to increase social interaction and productivity in school environments.
Cooksey explained, “I want to see students at lunch tables interacting with each other and talking, and I want to be annoyed by the level of sound and volume from the cafeteria at any given time.”
Cooksey also said she hopes for students to find more creative ways to spend their time, such as reading, drawing, talking to friends, or playing a game. Cooksey said that her best case scenario is that, “as a school, adults and students included, re-train ourselves to not rely on phones as a crutch.”
Another upside to next year’s phone policy is the way it will affect student’s ability to learn. Without the distraction of phones, students are more likely to be able to focus on lessons and subsequently take in information more effectively. This will also remove teachers’ extra challenge of fighting against the distraction of phones.
“I can only imagine [that] will be liberating for a lot of our staff,” said Cooksey.
The biggest concerns from students and parents alike have been how students and parents can get into contact during the school day, especially in the case of an emergency. Parents simply can call the front office and ask for their student to be sent down to the office to speak on the phone. If students need to call a parent, they can use the office phone, or if a private conversation is needed, students can ask to use the phone of a member of the staff to have a phone call.
During the second week of May, Monday the 5th through the 8th, SHS enacted a practice week for the phone policy. The practice week was hoped to show to staff and students what sort of things they should be prepared for in the following school year. Salida High School Principal Jesse Hull wrote in an email to parents and staff following the practice week, “It has been wonderful to see everyone embracing the changes, and we’ve received positive feedback from parents, students and staff.” Hull encouraged anyone with frustrations about the new phone policy to share any concerns they have.