At the start of the 2025-26 school year, all Northshore School District high schools implemented a policy that personal computing devices are not allowed in any classroom space. The following personal devices are not allowed to be out in classroom spaces or elsewhere during class (but may be out and used during passing periods and lunch outside of classroom spaces):
Cell phones
Computers
Wireless headphones
The following personal devices may be visible and used in class as long as they are used only for the intended purpose. If found to be used for messaging, gaming, or other distracting purposes, they are to be treated like other disallowed devices for that instance:
Smart watches
Ereaders
The key to the implementation of this policy is consistency. To that end, we have agreed upon the following for ILHS implementation:
If a violation of the policy occurs, the device is immediately confiscated from the student, the staff member posts it to the "Phone Patrol" Teams chat for pickup, and the device is picked up and kept in the main office until the end of the day.
Staff are not to give additional warnings to put devices away, as the expectation was established and warnings were given at the start of the year. All students were taught about the policy at the start of the school year, and that message has been repeatedly reinforced.
Students may listen to music using wired headphones when the teacher allows listening to music during class. Students are welcome to bring in a device to play such music, like an MP3 player, so long as the device clearly can not replicate distracting functions of a disallowed device (such as communication or gaming).
Every classroom has a set location, the phone spa, where students place their phones during class.
Students who do not have a phone to place in the phone spa instead are to place a card in their designated phone spa location that indicates that they do not have a phone with them that day.
Students who have accommodations for use of personal technology devices beyond the school policy are listed in this document (staff access, only). [Add link when sharing settings are limited to ILHS staff.]
If students feel the need to use a personal technology device at school, they need to submit a completed form that explains the need. Personal device usage will only be approved in rare circumstances when the device usage aligns with ILHS values (such as independent learning) and cannot be achieved using school/district devices.