Locking up student devices
High school staff observe benefits of new policy
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MARSHALL -- Marshall High School took a new approach to personal electronic devices like cell phones this year.
"In a nutshell, that basically says that our students cannot access their cell phones or their AirPods during the school day," MHS Principal Brian Jones told Marshall School Board members this week.
While students weren't enthusiastic about the change, Jones said school staff have noticed some benefits to it so far.
"It's not meant to be a consequence or punishment," Jones said. But a chance for students to develop in-person communication skills.
At Monday's Marshall School Board meeting, MHS Jones brought in an example of a NuKase locking case for phones and other electronics during an update on high school operations.
"This really started back in the spring of 2026 at a school board work session," Jones said of the change.
MHS administration surveyed school staff, parents and students. Staff "overwhelmingly" felt that students were distracted from learning by personal tech devices and parents mainly agreed, he said.
Students "didn't feel like it was an issue or problem at all," and weren't in favor of restrictions, he said.
MHS was able to secure funding to purchase NuKase cases for students this fall.
"We expect the students to have their devices locked up in the mornings as they come in," Jones said.
Students keep the locked devices with them or in their lockers during the school day, and then after school they can visit an unlocking station to get devices out of the case.
"We have 18 of these stations that we put up each day around the building," Jones said.
So far, MHS staff report that they've seen more student engagement in the classroom, and students communicating and socializing with each other at lunch, Jones said.
"The message when our students came back this fall was, we're not doing this because you all have done something wrong. We're doing this because the research is becoming more clear of the skills that your generation isn't possessing, and as educators it's our job to help get you ready," Jones said.
As part of his update, Jones also shared a snapshot of MHS a couple of months into the school year. Jones said MHS currently has an enrollment of 863 students. Based on data from the first 6.5 weeks of school, Jones said 85% of MHS students are passing their classes. The rate of chronic absenteeism - the rate of students who are missing 10% or more of their school days - was down to 13.4%, Jones said.
"Thirteen percent is still high, but that starts to approach some of those pre-COVID numbers, where students were in school more often," he said.
A total of 192 students graduated in the class of 2026, with 57% going on to attend a four-year college or university, 23% going on to attend a two-year technical school, and 3% joining the military.