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Joplin, MO (KOAM)– Joplin High School says it is prepared to follow the cell phone ban signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe.
Big changes are coming to Missouri classrooms this fall. A new law, just signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe, will limit when students are allowed to use cell phones. Students in grades K through 12 will no longer be permitted to use cell phones from the first bell to the last, including during passing periods and mealtimes.
“We got her a cell phone, maybe in 6th grade, because she started traveling with sports,” says Nick Reid, a Joplin parent.
Reid is a busy father of four kids in the Joplin school district. All of his kids are involved in sports. One way to keep up with them is with a cell phone, like most people. But Reid also admits that keeping them off their phones is important.
“We try to do as much together as possible so we can get that social interaction with each other. We make it a point to put the technology away.”
Missouri students will all be putting technology away starting this fall. The new cell phone ban states that no cell phone usage is allowed during school hours. According to Joplin High School Principal Randy Oliver, there were rules already in place.
“I think the premise behind it is awesome, but since we were already doing it, it’s not going to gain much instructional time for us,” Oliver says.
Oliver says that most students followed the previous rules, with few repeat offenders; however, he notes that this new bill is stricter than he had expected.
“The thing they added is no cell phone use in the lunchroom and no cell phones in the halls,” Oliver says.
Oliver says it wasn’t his decision.
“Whether I disagree with it or not, it doesn’t really matter,” Oliver says. “We’re going to follow it anyway because it’s state law.”
This law could bring about positive changes.
“I like it from the standpoint that it’s going to force kids to interact,” Oliver says.
“When something’s been one way for so long and then something changes, there’s always a little bit of a learning curve,” Reid says.
The ban does allow cell phone usage during emergencies, such as a natural disaster or an active shooter situation.
COPYRIGHT 2025 BY KOAM NEWS NOW. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
