Kewanee High School students next year won’t have access to their cell phones or other electronic devices throughout the school day.
The Kewanee School Board Tuesday approved a new policy which imposes a “bell to bell” ban on students using the devices.
Supt. Rebecca Baney told the board that the district will purchase containers that are big enough to hold a phone, a watch and earbuds.
Students will place their devices in the containers and won’t be able to get them back until after school.
Baney said accommodations can be made for students who have some special need for a phone.
She said the policy will go into effect in the next school year at KHS. Eventually, she said, the district will want to set up the policy in Central and Neponset junior high schools.
Also Tuesday, Baney reported that the new auditorium and classroom addition at Kewanee High School is nearly complete. Some work still needs to be done on the smoke and fire alarms in the new buildings.
KHS Principal Amanda Tidwell said the students a “very curious” about the addition and can’t wait to get in to see it for themselves.
Baney said KHS will host a superintendent meeting in early March, and she hopes it can be held in the new addition.
The board also hired Randy Borman to remove about 15,000 square feet of floor tile at Belle Alexander School. Borman will be paid $120,000 for the work.
