Tuscaloosa City School officials hold training on new cell phone pouches

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WBRC) - The cell phone ban in public schools just got real.

With the start of the new school year less than a month away for some school districts, school leaders are being trained now on how the new cell phone pouch works.

Tuscaloosa City School officials held such a training Wednesday morning, July 9.

It’s a big deal on so many levels. Tuscaloosa City School District leaders are convinced beyond all doubt the ban will not only translate into better grades for students, but also reduce misbehaving.

In a conference room at the Tuscaloosa City School District central office, “pouching” was the key word during the training class for school leaders.

The cell phone ban era has arrived, and Westlawn Middle School principal Dr. Darlene Atkins couldn’t be more pleased.

“The ultimate goal is to heighten student academic outcomes and let it be a meaningful experience in school for all students,” said Atkins.

The new cell phone ban is a state law, one superintendent Dr. Mike Daria says will be enforced.

“The pouch will not open up without that special magnet, and we’ll have those special magnets available for students as they exit, they will touch that pouch with a magnet and open the pouch with the magnet and open it up,” said Daria.

The trainer demonstrated just how it would work; it is straightforward, nothing complicated about it. The magnet locks and unlocks the carrier.

“If a student has two phones, they can fit in here, they close it, they keep it in the pouch all day long. In the evening, they’ll put it here, press a button, pull it out, and relock the pouch,” the trainer said.

Atkins feels certain the ban will make a difference in student behavioral issues.

“Believe it or not, a lot of our offenses in secondary schools happen because of what happened on social media, or an exchange with text messages,” said Atkins.

Principals like Atkins are well aware of the arguments by some that students will need the phone for an emergency.

“Rest assured, I survived when I was in school without the phone, and I think I turned out OK. Your child is going to be perfectly fine,” Atkins said.

“Let’s not forget the purpose of this ban. It is so students can focus on learning during the school day,” said Daria.

The start of the new school year is less than a month away with the calendar quickly barreling towards Aug. 7, the first day of school and the first day of the cell phone pouch.

Daria says the Tuscaloosa City School District spent $200,000 for the cell phone pouches.

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