Park City School District weighs district-wide cellphone rules ahead of 2025-26 school year

Photo: Unsplash // Adam AY

PARK CITY, Utah—Park City School District officials outlined plans this past week for a district-wide cell phone policy to curb classroom distractions and support student well-being ahead of the 2025-26 school year.

The district convened a panel of educators, parents, and students on April 22nd at Park City High School to discuss how to meet a new state mandate requiring consistent rules on student phone use during instructional time.

Superintendent Lyndsay Huntsman told the audience that Policy 10046, adopted in August 2024, already sets the framework. “This discussion is about aligning our daily practices to the policy in a thoughtful way that includes ongoing community dialogue,” Huntsman said. “We want to ensure a consistent experience across all schools that supports student learning and reduces distractions, while also being mindful of age-appropriate needs.”

Incoming high school principal Caleb Fine said the district is studying the success of Treasure Mountain Junior High, which this year locked phones in Yondr pouches from first bell to dismissal. “The shift we’ve seen at Treasure has been remarkable,” Fine said. “We’ve seen reduced incidents of social-media-fueled conflict, increased peer interaction and a stronger sense of community.”

Teachers echoed the change. “This year, I’ve rarely had to address cell phones at all, which allows me to focus entirely on teaching,” English teacher Scot Myers said. Computer-science teacher Suzy Cox added that removing phones from view “makes a tremendous difference, not just academically, but socially.”

The conversation comes as the district prepares to close Treasure Mountain Junior High and move ninth- and 10th-grade students to Park City High School in 2025-26, increasing the high school’s enrollment. “Our goal is to create an environment that supports both learning and personal development,” Fine said. “We know this isn’t about removing technology; our students use devices regularly for learning. It’s about helping them manage their digital habits in a healthy and productive way.”

Huntsman said future forums will be scheduled before the new school year to keep families involved. “We’re navigating this together,” she said. “This is about creating a positive culture for our students, one that balances expectations with support.”

Residents can submit feedback here: www.pcschools.us/about/feedback.