In an effort to strengthen academic focus and reduce classroom distractions, the Otis School District Board of Education has officially adopted a new "Bell-to-Bell No Cell Phones or Personal Technology Devices (PTDs)" policy. This means our school will be completely phone-free throughout the entire school day. The policy was approved during the May 20th school board meeting and will go into effect at the start of the 2025-2026 school year.
This updated district-wide policy is rooted in Otis School District’s commitment to fostering a focused, collaborative, and respectful learning environment. While the district recognizes the value of communication and access to technology, the emphasis remains on keeping the classroom centered around learning.
Key Highlights of the Policy:
Students in Grades 6–12 are required to turn off and check in all personal technology devices—including cell phones, smart watches, AirPods, and other electronics—at the school office each morning. Devices will be secured in a locked space and returned at the end of the school day.
Students in Grades PK–5 are not permitted to bring PTDs to school under any circumstances.
Students may only use school phones if they need to make a call during school hours.
The school will not be responsible for any lost, stolen, or damaged personal devices.
School administrators retain the right to grant temporary access to PTDs under special circumstances.
“Being an all day phone-free school is a bold move, but one we feel strongly will benefit our students academically, socially and emotionally in the long run,” said Superintendent Giffing, “We want our students to be fully engaged in their education and surrounded by meaningful face-to-face interactions during the school day.”
We know this transition will pose some challenges and cause some discomfort, but we hope that students and parents will quickly begin to experience its benefits both in the class room and in their social interactions.
“Phones and smart devices have been part of school life for years—even when I was a student,” stated Principal Kuntz. “ What’s different today is the constant stream of notifications and distractions driven by social media. We believe that a phone-free school environment is healthier and more beneficial for students. While this is a significant change, we’re confident it will have a positive, long-term impact on our kids.”
We know many may have some questions or concerns as we move forward with this policy. The approved policy can be found on our website https://www.otisr3.com/ along with a Frequently Asked Questions document to help address your concerns. We hope that this will help make this a smooth transition and ease any concern you may have. We will continue to provide detailed information as we move closer to the beginning of the school year. For more information, parents and guardians are encouraged to contact the district office.