Local schools make cellphone policies stricter

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With the onset of the new school year, local schools are again attempting to battle something that’s been affecting student engagement for years: cellphones. 

In 2024, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 3216, which states that all school districts, charter schools and county offices of education must develop a phone policy that limits phone use. This was to be accomplished by July 1, 2026. 

Knowing that this deadline was coming, the San Benito High School District created a cellphone task force that included administrators, Hollister High Principal Kevin Medeiros, community members and students. 

“What we did was we went through the process of deciding what that looks like,” Medeiros said. “As with anything, whenever laws come out they’re a little bit vague at first, and it gives you the discretion as the school to work within those parameters of how you’re going to design it.”

The school piloted a policy where students put their phones in lockers or caddies during instructional time.

“What that means is any time class is in session, cellphone use is prohibited,” Medeiros said. 

For the 2026-27 school year, the policy was officially adopted and also prohibits use of other devices such as wireless earbuds, smart watches, tablets or anything else that can connect to phones. 

“It really adds a little bit more teeth to it and there’s a clearer expectation that in every classroom you walk into, this is how it’s going to be done,” Medeiros said. 

Anzar High School has a similar policy in place. The students put their phones in what they call “phone hotels,” said Anzar Principal Shamoon Ebrahimi. 

Similar to Hollister High, Anzar only allows the use of school-issued Chromebooks during class time, but outside of class, students are allowed to use their phones. 

“There’s just a new addition to the policy that’s going to impact the kids and it’s that you really can only use your school device on campus,” Ebrahimi said. “So, you cannot have your own personal laptop, your own iPad, smart watch, whatever the case may be. You’re only going to be able to use the Chromebook that the school gives you.”

Ebrahimi pointed out that the most drastic change he’s seen is at Aromas School, whose policy allows students to bring their cellphones to school but collects them in the homeroom class and brings them to the office for the day.

According to the policy, students do not get their phones back until the end of the school day and parents may call the office if they wish to reach their child. 

“If you read the board notes on the policy information,” Ebrahimi said, “it’s a really drastic change for the TK-8 school, and at Anzar, we already had the hotels so we’re just going to continue to do more of the same.” 

The new cellphone policies are aimed at increasing student engagement and focus during class, according to both principals. 

“From my understanding, I think kids have struggled with cellphones for quite some time now in our society, and it probably was amped up a little bit more after the COVID era,” he said. 

Both principals said they believe that their policies are helping students engage more fully with their schoolwork. 

“Believe it or not,” Medeiros said, “in that summer school pilot, when they surveyed students, even students said that they felt like they were paying attention more.”  

He also said that even though the school year has only been going for a few weeks, teachers have reported that they have seen increased student engagement. 

Embrahimi said he believes that Anzar students are also following the new rules. 

“This, essentially, is an opportunity for us to just refocus a little bit on what school’s all about to begin with,” Ebrahimi said. “Which is for us to be able to sit down in the classroom and actually be able to learn what the teacher is giving us and participate with my peers and get the most out of the lesson.”

At both Anzar and Hollister High, students are always permitted use of their phones in case of emergencies. Aromas School has no specific policy on the matter.

Prior to the current school year, Hollister High didn’t allow phones during instructional time, however, Medeiros said that this new policy makes it more “concrete.” 

For middle schools Marguerite Maze and Rancho San Justo, cellphone policies look a little different. 

Marguerite Maze’s policy doesn’t require students to secure their phones in lockers or caddies. Instead, students must turn off their phones completely and store them in their backpacks during school hours. 

The policy also states that “cellphones may be used only as instructional resources in the classroom under the director.”

Rancho San Justo’s policy is similar to Marguerite Maze’s but does not allow use of cellphones as instructional resources and says that phones should be turned off before students arrive on campus. 

Violation of the policies at either middle school can result in the cellphone being confiscated and requiring pick-up by a parent.

The BenitoLink Internship Program is a paid, skill-building program that prepares local youth for a professional career. This program is supported by Monterey Peninsula Foundation AT&T Golf Tour and Taylor Farms.