Board OKs a new phone policy

Fort Recovery students will be required to leave cell phones in designated areas during class.

Fort Recovery School Board approved amendments to the district’s communication devices policy Monday.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed legislation into law in May 2024 stipulating that every Ohio school district must establish a policy regarding cell phone usage during school by July 2025.

In June, Ohio legislators enacted a law requiring school districts to adopt policies prohibiting cell phone use by students during the school day by Jan. 1. That includes during passing period, meals, recess and field trips.

Fort Recovery Local School’s policy relates to all personal communication devices, including cell phones, smart watches and other technology capable of transmitting or receiving communications. Its policy dates back to 2007.

According to the newly amended policy, students must leave their devices in lockers, backpacks or purses. They must store their devices when entering classrooms. Previously, students were still able to use their phones during lunch and between classes, but the policy now prohibits use during the entire school day to adhere to state law.

Fort Recovery Local Schools superintendent Tony Stahl explained the district looked into Yondr phone pouches, which lock students’ phones in a case they carry around during the school day, although concerns about the cost and logistical questions have led the district in a different direction. More than half of high school teachers already require students to leave their phones in wooden boxes or plastic pocket holders during class time, noted principal Ryan Steinbrunner.

Middle school principal Holly Wermert said she’s interested to see if bathroom breaks decrease with the new policy, saying students won’t be taking “brain breaks” with their phone while in the restroom or hallways.

Exceptions to the policy include needs for educational or medical reasons. Students are able to use their devices if they’re on an individualized educational program, for monitoring health concerns, in case of an active threat or emergency or when authorized by staff. They’re also still able to use cell phones during school-related events, such as extracurricular activities, and while riding school vehicles.

Stahl explained the district met with high school and middle school leadership teams from August through October to develop the amended policy. Educational policy consultant firm Neola shared feedback for making tweaks to the policy in September.

Monday’s meeting served as the second reading and adoption of the new policy, which will be available to read on the district’s website.

School board members Mitch Fullenkamp, Sean Kahlig, Nick Wehrkamp and Don Wendel, absent Greg LeFevre, approved the amended policy.

Also Monday, Steinbrunner talked about a trend in absenteeism at the high school.

Last year, approximately 8.4% of students missed 10% or more of the school year. (The elementary and middle school rates were 1.8% and 2.6%, respectively.) Steinbrunner noted the state’s target area of concern for chronic absenteeism sits at more than 25%. 

“Our (state) report card doesn’t alarm this as being something that’s extremely concerning, but to me and our staff, that’s a lot of students missing a lot of instruction time,” he said.

Ways in which high school staff are hoping to improve on the issue, explained Steinbrunner, include monitoring attendance reports weekly to identify students earlier and communicating with families to identify barriers for attendance. He also suggested improving how the school tracks college visits and job shadows, which count toward a student’s attendance if they turn in proper paperwork. 

In other business, school board:

•Heard sophomores Paisley Hart, Ally Roessner and Kendall Ranly were nominated as finalists for the annual $1,000 Carson scholarship.

•Learned Fort Recovery Elementary School’s Cents for Cincy fundraiser earned $5,061.29 for patients at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Student council members will use the dollars to purchase gifts for patients on an Amazon wish list.

•Approved the following: an annual motion to establish board members’ compensation at $80 per meeting for a total of 20 meetings per calendar year; Memorandum of Agreements for depositing public funds with First Financial Bank and Park National Bank to serve as public depositories from Jan. 1, 2026 through Dec. 31, 2030; the district’s plan for Student Wellness and Success Funds and Disadvantaged Pupil Impact Aid; several supplemental contracts, including Christy Diller as girls track coach and Charlie Vasey as boys track coach for Fort Recovery High School and Bob Heitkamp as track and field coach for Fort Recovery Middle School.

•Accepted junior high cheerleading coach Christy Kaiser’s resignation.

•OK’d hiring several volunteer coaches, including Jill Ranly and Bailey Muhlenkamp as junior high cheerleading coaches and Matt Roessner as indoor track coach.

•Hired the following: Nicole Fenning as a high school English teacher; Tatsiana Wood and Michelle Stammen as substitute teachers; Leah Koesters, Doug Stone and Kylee Sutter as van drivers; Doug Stone as a substitute bus driver; Amy Bihn, Denise Bruns, Ashley Eichenauer, Karli Jutte, Alyssa Lewis and Rose Moeder as van drivers retroactive to Aug. 19; and Brittany Siefring as a non-teaching employee.

•Heard about changes to the eighth graders’ trip to Washington D.C. in October because of the federal government shutdown. Middle school principal Holly Wermert expressed appreciation to K&K Tours for offering new opportunities, including a visit to The People’s House museum and a private tour of the United States Capitol arranged by Ohio congressman Bob Latta.

•Accepted $1,728 in donations, with $518 from Spark*l for cheerleading and $500 from Jutte Electric for athletics.