Olney High School has announced a new cell phone policy that it plans to implement upon the start of the new school year, which is causing controversy and debate, writes JoAnn Pileggi for FOX 29 Philadelphia.
The new policy requires students to lock up their cell phones in outdoor lockers. Locks will cost $1 initially, then increase to $5 thereafter.
For school officials, the belief is that the new policy will help enhance student learning.
However, students and parents are against the policy, citing that it poses a safety risk because it restricts students’ ability to communicate with their families and loved ones in the case of an emergency.
Other students are concerned about the security of the outdoor lockers.
“It’s gonna be chaos, especially since a lot of people here. There are a lot of people here and anybody can cut a lock and take student property,” said student Aisha Solis Martinez.
Solis Martinez has since started a petition to have the policy reversed, which has received more than 600 signatures in just over a week.
Several schools in the district have been using Yondr pouches to restrict cell phone use.
Read more about Olney High’s controversial new cell phone policy and the reactions towards it at FOX 29 Philadelphia.
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on PHILADELPHIA.Today in August 2025.
