The cell phone ban has had surprising benefits at Fossil Ridge High School, staff and students say.
In the 2024-2025 school year, all Poudre School District (PSD) elementary, middle schools, and a few high schools had a cell phone ban, requiring all students to keep cell phones stored away from bell to bell.
Governor Jared Polis signed a bill on May 1 that requires all Colorado school districts to create their own cell phone policies by the start of the 2026-2027 school year.
“Teachers seem to feel enthusiastic. They are certainly pouching phones and following through on the policy,” said Melissa Stapleton, one of Fossil’s dean of students.
As of Sept. 11, 102 student cell phones have been pouched since the school year began. While all grade levels have been a part of that number, sophomores have lost the most phones, said Alec Gordon, East Wing Secretary
“I haven’t pouched any juniors, only sophomores, because they struggle a little bit more,” Language arts teacher Nick Peardot said. “They are the least mature of the group that have not had to deal with the cell phone ban before.”
While the phone ban will be beneficial in the long run, students are running into issues when it comes to contacting parents and friends.
“I think it can be an inconvenience at times because it makes it harder to communicate with your family,” sophomore Gia Grothman said.
Students can use phones during passing periods, lunch, and off periods. If teachers want to have their class use cell phones, they can request it from the admin.
“If they have a certain learning project or something, phones are necessary. They can make a request,” Stapleton said.
Although the phone ban was a big change, it has slowly become a benefit for the productivity and interaction of students and teachers, they said.
“I think the best part about it is, like, with them making you have it in your backpack and stuff, I think it’s definitely way less distracting,” junior Kadence Jane said. “And I think I get a lot more work done that way.”
Students and staff are eager for the future in hopes of a more social school environment.
“For one, I’m a much happier teacher, and so I think that rubs off on the kids. I think that knowing that not having cell phones makes their teachers happy, makes them feel a little bit more responsible,” Peardot said.
