Since 2019 California law has permitted districts to restrict student cell phones. For the 2024-2025 school year, Principal Dr. Jeremy Spurley has made it a school-wide obligation. 

“This is nothing new,” Dr. Spurley explained, “the only thing we´ve done here at Hoover this year is [make] sure that we have a very clear policy of how we want to organize that in the classroom setting.” Staff has been given numbered cell phone pockets where students store their phones during class time.

The school is divided into red and green zones, defining where phones can and cannot be used. 

Red zones: classrooms, bathrooms, offices 

Green zones: open areas during snack, lunch, and passing periods. 

Dr. Spurley acknowledges the real world has cell phones. The administration’s goal is to teach students how to manage when and where is the proper time to use personal devices. 

“We know cell phones can be a distraction but teaching [the] life skills of time and place is one of our goals, which is why we give the opportunity to use them [during] uninstructed time.”

A school-wide survey was sent to students and parents about the policy, allowing them to share their personal opinions. Results showed close to no complaints from parents. Students, on the other hand, were less enthusiastic.

Dr. Spurley commented on the disparity: “There hasn’t been a very clear policy [in past school years] in terms of standardizing it in every single class and so, like anything new, right when we go from zero to one hundred there’s going to be some push back.”

Regardless of students’ grumbles about the policy, studies show limiting cell phones during instructional time increases engagement, attention, and therefore academic success.

Dr. Spurley’s ultimate message to students, “Every staff member, every teacher on this campus, our goal is to make sure you’re graduating here to get to the next level, and so when we encounter [a] barrier to that, that’s where these protocols come into place.” 

Students or parents who want to know more about the policy can visit the district website at www.gusd.net.