They look like behind-the-door shoe holders – in fact, some of them were originally for shoes, but now they hold cell phones. As you walk into class, the first thing students do is put their phones in their individually assigned pockets. One quarter into school and it’s routine. (Almost) no one complains. 

English teacher CD Sheffy has these phone holders in his English 10 class. He uses them to take attendance at the start of class every day.

“It hasn’t been a problem at all since day one,” Sheffy said. 

The phone holders are part of BHS’s new policy of stricter phone usage rules, which started in August. However, beginning in January, those pouches will no longer be necessary, as BHS will transition to a completely cell phone-free environment. 

On June 27, Governor Phil Scott signed House Bill 480, also known as the Miscellaneous Education Law, which completely banned cell phones within schools across the state starting at the beginning of the next school year in August 2026. 

“It’s clear now that phones can get in the way of important conversations,” Scott said on his official website. “Taking a break from our phones is probably a good policy for all of us to follow.” 

BHS plans to get a head start on this law by implementing the school-wide phone ban this January. In an email to the community, Superintendent Flanagan said that this will be a “fluid and natural next step” because our middle and elementary schools are already cell phone-free. 

“I did not know about [the January ban],” Sawyer Judkins ‘27 said. “I don’t feel very happy about that. [But] honestly, I think we do pretty well with mandating it [already] as a school”. 

Social Studies teacher Brennan Carney said he thinks the school should have gone full ban at the start of this school year.

“It’s sad that it has come to this, but in reality, it’s needed. Cell phone use at school has gotten out of hand,” Carney said. 

The administration hasn’t specified exactly how the cell phone ban will be implemented. 

Harwood Union High School and Woodstock Union High School both use Yondr pouches (magnetic bags that can only be unlocked at a special base). At Edmunds Middle School, a feeder for BHS, students are never allowed to have their phones out during the school day, and the policy states the following:

• 1st offense, phone is taken until the end of the day, and families are notified.
• 2nd offense, the phone is taken and is only returned when a guardian comes in for a conference with the school administration.
• 3rd offense, the phone is taken, and families must schedule a conference with the school administration and the Office of Equity to develop a longer-term agreement. If a family refuses to attend a meeting, the student may be suspended until the meeting takes place.

Julianna Bridges ‘26 is worried about not having her phone if something like a shooting were to happen.

“I wouldn’t be able to get a hold of my friends and family to let them know that I was okay or to make sure that they are okay,” Bridges said.

However, if the BHS follows Edmunds’ policy, which seems likely, students would have access to their phones during an emergency. 

It’s unclear when the administration will tell us the specifics of the new phone ban policy, but they have been clear that it will start this January.