Thank you for your partnership as we hold student wellbeing and student learning at the center of all that we do as students, parents/guardians, and as educators. 

1. What is the research supporting this change with cell phones? 

Cell Phone Research and Resources

2. Is this a cell phone ban? 

No, this is not a cell phone ban; it is a limit to accessing phones and headphones/earbuds during instructional time.

3. How can students and parents/guardians stay in touch during the school day? 

Students and parents/guardians can use cell phones to stay in touch throughout the day during 10-minute passing periods, lunchtime in the cafeteria, and unscheduled blocks, and in The Hub.

4. What if a student becomes sick while at ETHS?

If your child becomes sick while in class, they should tell their teacher and ask for a pass. They will be allowed to retrieve their phones and will be sent to the Nurses’ Office with a pass. Please review the guidance from our Health Services Office for more information.

5. What if a student or parent has an urgent situation and needs to be in touch with each other?

In case of emergencies or urgent situations during class time, parents/guardians should call the Dean’s Office at (847)424-7900. If a student needs to contact their parents/guardians during class time, they should let their teacher know. The teacher will assist them in accessing a phone or making contact, including sending them to the Dean’s Office to make the phone call.

6. How do we know our students are safe if there is a school-wide safety concern, such as a lockdown? 

Rest assured that our staff are prepared to handle emergencies and will prioritize your safety above all else. Our school has procedures in place to address emergency situations effectively, regardless of cell phone access. Our staff are trained to respond quickly and appropriately to any emergency that may arise, and we have systems in place to communicate with emergency services and notify parents or guardians as needed.

In the event that ETHS has a lockdown, soft lockdown, hold-in-place, shelter-in-place, or evacuation it is important for students to follow specific instructions as outlined in our Safety / Emergency Response and from their teachers; students will have access to their cell phones if it is determined to be the safest, necessary and appropriate action.

7. What are the consequences for phone usage with this new practice?

Our Student Behavior Code within our student handbook will indicate that if a student is noncompliant with cell phone or headphones/earbuds expectations, including storage unit use for cell phones, the teacher will give a verbal reminder of the expectation and potential consequences for continued noncompliance, as well as an opportunity to redirect their behavior. If there are additional incidents or continued noncompliance, a conduct referral may be submitted to the student’s Dean and interventions and consequences will be applied in accordance with the Student Behavior Code.

8. Should I be worried about my child’s cell phone getting stolen? 

Many ETHS teachers have utilized cell phone storage units in class for years at ETHS with no stolen cell phones. Our processes will continue cell phone theft prevention while in cell phone storage units, including the location of storage units, a quick retrieval process at the end of class, and the notation of which pocket a student’s cell phone is assigned to.

9. How will my student do class work without a cell phone? 

ETHS provides each student a Chromebook as part of the District’s 1:1 Digital Learning Initiative. All assigned school work must be completed with the use of the District-issued laptop and is not permitted to be completed on a cell phone. For more information visit: ETHS 1:1 Digital Learning 

10. What if separation from a cell phone creates particular challenges, such as anxiety, for a student?

Notify the student’s dean, counselor or social worker so that the grade level team can help create a plan with parent and student, ensuring compliance with the expectations and also providing support.