Cherry Hill schools looking deeply at student use of technology as state ban on cell phones is set to begin.

The Cherry Hill school district, which is adopting the state's strict bell-to-bell ban on cell phone use on school grounds beginning in September, also is studying overall technology use by students, the district disclosed last week.

After board members heard a report last Tuesday on implementing the state cell policy, Farrah Mahan, the assistant superintendent for PreK-12 and curriculum, said school officials in August will present a proposed technology policy for the district that includes an AI plan.

The state ban on cell use, including smart watches and smart glasses, requires students to store devices in their lockers or backpacks.

"We will revisit this if needed if the need arises and have asked administration to monitor whether a change is needed and to update the board," board member Miriam Stern said in reading a report by member Bridget Palmer, who was absent.

The state Education Department recommended that districts suspend the two-reading requirement for new policies to make sure the restrictions are in force by September. However, Cherry Hill will have a second reading of the policy at a special meeting so the process is not "shortchanged," Stern said. 

Educators across the nation have expressed concern over the impact of student cell-phone use during the school day. Besides being a distraction in the classroom, the continual use of social media can have negative effects.

"The unregulated use of these devices during the school day can result in lower academic performance, harm to emotional well-being and deterioration of a positive school climate," according to the New Jersey Department of Education webpage on student digital wellness. 

The state webpage points to the new state law on school cell phone use and a 17-page report published by the state in January on the use of the internet devices.

Stern explained that there can be exemptions to the ban for special situations, including students who monitor their health conditions with the devices or need the devices as part of an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Some may need to use apps on the devices for instruction in music or finance classes, she said. 

"The policy allows for...limited use of apps as part of instruction with the approval of the building or district administration. So there may be some big work to do for some of our new administrators coming in, especially at the middle school and high school level," Stern said in reading the report.

Devices may be used on school property out of the normal school day. "Devices are allowed at the discretion of teachers, club advisors during after-school activities and on buses," Stern said.

"This is a big one....This is definitely a big one," board member Renee Cherfane said after the hearing the presentation. 

Cherfane said she hoped the board also would consider a policy on the use of district-issued Chromebooks. 

"What I've witnessed with this is that when they come home, there's still very unlimited access to a lot of things on those devices," Cherfane said of the laptop computers.