Recently, The Board of Education announced that they would be looking into locking up the phones of New Jersey students. This is a result of multiple social media influences on students’ behavior.  The Kingsway Regional School District was made aware of this and is working under the radar to take part in this new act. Students expressed their concerns to the school district’s administration. 

Superintendent, Dr. James Lavender, spoke about the issues involving phone usage at the Kingsway Regional High School. “I largely think it’s problematic,” Lavender said, “I spoke to all our faculty in both schools. I know what it’s like to let kids use the phone; I used to teach. We’ve allowed them [phones] to come out during SMART. But phone use in the bathroom has become more of an issue. We’re trying to give our kids as much liberties and freedoms as we can possibly give them. The behaviors are mean-spirited.”

Kingsway’s principal, Stefanie Fox-Manno, had thoughts about the board’s decision. “I think overall, we’re doing better as far as adhering to the mandate. Are we seeing phones as students go to the bathroom? Yes. It’s instructional time still, so they should not have their phones.” As she expressed her concerns, she brought up how Kingsway as a school district will be affected. “I’ve already looked at [the service to turn off phones] and priced them out. My fear is I’m not teaching you guys how to properly use your phones.” Fox-Manno said. 

The 11th grade assistant principal, James Zurzolo, additionally pitched in his concerns, stating, “It’s a problem. That’s all there is to be said. It’s a problem that the administration is dealing with. We have taken precautions multiple times to appeal to the students. But they break rules on multiple occasions, so we gotta do something about it.” Zurzolo agreed with Lavender about enforcing a stricter set of rules on the school. “We know about that decision.” He said in response to the board’s choice. “It won’t happen anytime soon, but eventually we’ll see the phones be such a problem that it’ll be needed.”