IMLAY CITY, MI — Imlay City Community Schools has become one of the most recent mid-Michigan districts to ban the use of cell phones and smart watches by its pupils for a majority of the academic day.
In letters to elementary, middle and high school families, district Superintendent Dr. Stu Cameron announced the new policy for all school buildings effective for the 2025-26 academic year, which began this week.
“ICS students will no longer be permitted to use cell phones in classrooms or during instructional time throughout the school day,” Cameron said. “This policy has been adopted after careful consideration of current research on mental health and academic performance, as well as feedback from educators, families and mental health professionals.”
The superintendent cites social psychologist Jonathan Haidt’s book “The Anxious Generation,” which explains how increased screen time, especially through smartphones and social media, has contributed to increased levels of anxiety, distraction, and emotional struggles in children over the past decade.
It’s a similar notion shared by Flushing and Mt. Morris schools in letters to parents ahead of the new school year.
Both districts instituted cell phone and smart watch bans for students during the school day in all their buildings starting this fall.
In the letter to elementary school families, Cameron noted several aims for the district with the change, including staying focused in class and getting the most out of their learning, building stronger friendships through face-to-face play and conversation, and protecting their mental health and emotional well-being during these crucial years of development.
The letters to middle and high school families touted aims of promoting focus and academic success, supporting mental health, and encouraging healthy social interaction.
While phones are not allowed to be used by all students during class time, there is some variation between buildings in the new policy.
All students are allowed to bring phones to school, but elementary students must have them turned off, stored in a backpack, or in the care of their homeroom teacher.
Middle school students must also have their phones off and stored away during the school day, unless explicitly allowed by a teacher for educational purposes.
At the high school level, Cameron said with an increased need to communicate with parents, coaches, employers and others about after-school events, transportation and schedule changes, students are allowed to access phones during their scheduled lunch periods only.
“As a reminder to families, every classroom in the building has its own dedicated phone for use in case of a classroom or building emergency, and if necessary, students may request the use of the office phone for important communications with parents during school hours when students are on scheduled breaks, as has been our building practice for years,” the superintendent said.
Cameron offered his appreciation to families as “we implement this important step to support the well-being and success of our students,” while encouraging those with questions about the policy to reach out and explore Haidt’s book.
“Together, we can ensure that our schools remain places where students can thrive—academically, socially, and emotionally,” he said.
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