Kansas students forced to put cell phones in lockers before school as new ‘bell to bell’ law enforced

Kansas students have been forced to put cell phones into lockers before they set foot in class as part of a blanket ban on the devices in schools across the state.

Thousands of students in grades K-12 are banned from using their cell phones during the school day under HB 2299, which outgoing Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed into law in March and hailed as a tool to “reduce distractions in the classroom.”

School districts are granted the flexibility to enforce the policy as they see fit.

Schools in the Kansas City public school district have spent $150,000 on special lockers for students to slot in their cell phones before class, KCTV reported.

Video has since gone viral showing kids at Wyandotte High School putting their cell phones into a cage with a glass window as a supervisor seemingly provides oversight of the high-tech gadgets at the start of the school day at 7:25 a.m.

The cell phone cage cannot be accessed during school hours and students are required to collect their device at the end of the school day at 2:25 p.m.

Wyandotte High’s enforcement of the policy has sparked division online.

“You don’t think the kids will put a 2nd or broken phone in there and keep their regular phone on them?” one Facebook user suggested.

“When someone steals the whole rolling cart is the school insured to replace 450-650 phones?” another reacted.

“Are they even checking to see if the phones are working phones?” a third asked. “Who’s to say the kids aren’t turning in an old phone and hanging on to their actual phone?”

“My question is what about students that rely on their phone to alert them their blood sugar has gone up or down?” a parent asked. “I sure hope there are exemptions for these students.”

Wyandotte High students also have the option of leaving their cell phones at home or inside their cars. Not every school is following the approach of Wyandotte High.

Students in the nearby Piper Unified School District can store their cell phones in a traditional locker they don’t access during the school day.

Basehor-Linwood Unified School District officials have bought special lockers for high school students.

Students busted using their cell phones will have it confiscated for the entire day for a first-time offense.

Those caught flouting the ban three times will be suspended from school for a day.

Students in the Shawnee Mission Unified School District are being encouraged to leave their cell phones at home, in their locker, or in their car.

The policy applies to accredited private schools across the state. Students at Kansas City Christian school can buy a $25 pouch to store their phone if they choose to.

Students have been warned they are not allowed to keep their devices in pockets or backpacks.

The ban also applies to personal tablets, computers, smartwatches, wireless headphones and text messaging devices.

There are exceptions for students who need a device for a medical reason or part of an education plan.

The ban doesn’t apply to computers or devices that are issued by schools.

The law was backed on a bipartisan scale – with a majority of 32 votes to four in the state senate, and 84-39 in the House of Representatives.

State Senator Cindy Holscher, who is the Democratic Party’s gubernatorial candidate in Kansas in November, voted against the bill. 

“This bill oversteps local school boards and does little to address the real mental health challenges students are facing,” she said in March.

“Our teachers and school districts are already stretched thin. Instead of adding another statewide mandate, we should be working with local leaders to find solutions that truly support students and their well-being. There are far better ways to help our kids succeed.

Democratic Rep. Stephanie Clayton also voted against the law.

“As the parent of a teenager, I am very cognizant of the fact that phones are a necessary evil — especially if you have a child who drives to school,” she said.

Andover Republican Ty Masterson, Holscher’s rival in November’s election, voted in favor of the ban.

A similar “bell to bell” ban is in force across public schools in New York, affecting almost a million children.