“It’s been a large part of our success for the past decade or so here in Warner,” Vinson said. “And it’s allowed our teachers to not have to compete with messages and things going on with the phones and students.”
The Oklahoma Legislature is considering a ban for cellphones during the day for all Oklahoma schools. In February, the Oklahoma House passed a bill prohibiting student cell phone use “from bell to bell.” In March, the Oklahoma Senate passed a measure prohibiting student cellphone use during the school day for at least one year.
Vinson said Warner has had its all-day prohibition for the past 13 years. He said Warner Schools received C’s on the State Report Card in 2012, but A’s on each State Report Card since 2019.
Other area schools have similar prohibitions.
Rougher Alternative Academy Principal Lisa Charboneau said cellphones are not allowed past the front door.
“We have a check-in system, and at that time, the student checks their phone in and wears a corresponding lanyard with their phone storage number on it,” Charboneau said. “At the end of the day, it’s the same process in reverse to get their phone.”
Hilldale Elementary and Middle Schools policies say cellphones must be turned off and out of sight during the school day. Hilldale High School allows cellphone use during breakfast or lunch, but not during or between classes.
Several area schools prohibit cellphone use during classes, but allow use during lunch or between classes.
Muskogee High School Principal Kinsey Clark said cellphones “should be silenced, put away and out of sight unless the teacher gives specific permission for cellphone use for instructional purposes only.”
Fort Gibson High School Principal Ben Pemberton said the FGHS started its class-time cellphone ban this year.
“The positive effect has been student engagement during instructional time; it’s been greatly improved,” Pemberton said. “It’s the feedback we get from the classroom teachers that made the biggest impact. They feel like they have their classroom again and they’re not fighting that constant battle between what they’re presenting and what the kids are trying to view on their cellphone device. Without that distraction, it makes the learning environment more productive.”
Pemberton said parents can reach their children by calling the school office during instructional time.
“Parents have always had a way to get in contact with their kids,” he said.
Muskogee’s 8th and 9th Grade Academy allows cellphone use before and after school, between classes and during lunch, Principal Ryan Buell said. They must not have them out during class.
“The policy works well,” Buell said. “The vast majority of parents do not complain and come quickly to retrieve their students’ phone if needed. We are very clear with this policy.”
Oktaha Superintendent Laura Holt said prohibiting cellphone use in the classroom limits distraction.
“Maybe the kids’ minds will be on what’s going on in the classroom, not what’s going on with their phone, what they’re missing,” she said.
©2025 the Muskogee Phoenix (Muskogee, Okla.). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
