CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) -- Starting next school year, districts across the state will be required to ban cellphones from the classroom. 

Last week, the Clarksville-Montgomery School Board of Education voted on its new policy, which prohibits cellphone use for the entire school day.  

Last year, school board members touted Kenwood High School's no cellphone policy as a success.

“A 16% increase in school safety and order, a 23% increase in teacher, voice and leadership and 10% increase in future commitment,” District 6 School Board Member Chris Lanier cited as improvements. “It's actually a communication ban, not just a cellphone ban, so it's anything that can make or receive calls.” 

There are some exceptions to the rule: should there be an emergency, students are able to take out their devices and contact their families. In addition, students who use their phones for medical purposes, such as monitoring blood sugar levels, are permitted to use their phones. 

“In the event that anything were to happen, they are able to grab those phones and take them with them, they can have them in their pocket, we really don't care where they are, they just need to be turned off and put away. We hope that this is going to increase our educational process,” Lanier said.  

Although the board did debate allowing phones during passing and lunch periods, ultimately, they voted for a ban the entire day.      

“A lot of times they will actually plan where they're going to meet up and fight or they're going to plan, 'Oh, we're going to go get this guy at this time,' they're texting one another,” state representative and CMCSS Board Member Aron Maberry said. “Well now if they're going to do that, they're actually going to have to speak to one another or pass notes and have that risk of getting caught like we were when I was a kid.” 

Students who don't comply will get a warning, followed by their phones taken until the end of the day on their second offense. On their third offense, parents will have to pick up their phones. 

"I graduated 22 years ago from Clarksville-Montgomery County and we interacted with one another, and that's what we want to bring back,” Maberry added. “I'm encouraging all parents out there, get your kids to put their devices away, it's going to be good for them to unplug for a period of time every single day, unplug and let their brain focus on their schooling.” 

Students caught using their phones may also face detention, along with in or out-of-school suspensions. 

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/clarksville/clarksville-montgomery-county-schools-pass-cellphone-ban-policy/