On August 13, 2026, the Board of Trustees voted to amend Policy 3630 which means cell phones and personal devices are prohibited during the entire school day. Essentially, this means that students will stow their cell phones and personal devices in a secure locker in the morning at the first bell and will not have access to their phones again until the last bell.
There are several reasons for this change:
Research shows that student use of cell phones during the school day contributes to increased distractions, inattentiveness, lower test scores, fewer or less satisfying social interactions, and poor mental health.
The school cannot monitor content on personal devices and students are often showing each other content and images from their phones that parents may not approve of and may be inappropriate.
Teachers spend too much time consumed with policing cell phones during class time.
The Gardiner School staff and many parents and community members were vocal in their support of this policy change due to the anticipated positive impact it will have on our students' focus, social interactions, and mental health. We are excited about the change and look forward to connecting and re-engaging with the students and watching them re-engage with each other. The 2026-2027 JH/HS Student Handbook outlines the procedures and consequences for implementing the policy.
Thank you to everyone who supported this change!