STAFF REPORT
Glasgow News 1
Caverna High School is rolling out a stricter cell phone policy this fall, requiring students to keep their phones in lockers during the school day. The policy will take effect Aug. 12, which is the first day of school for the district.
Assistant Principal Natasha Jackson-Hayes said the change is meant to keep students more focused in class and build a more cohesive approach under new leadership in the building.
Jackson-Hayes told WNKY said teachers are increasingly concerned that phones are hurting academics.
She said removing phones from the classroom helps students pay closer attention to lessons, reduces constant text and app distractions, and encourages more face-to-face interaction among classmates.
The district’s move comes after Gov. Andy Beshear signed House Bill 208 in early 2025, limiting cell phone and social media use in classrooms across Kentucky, according to the transcript.
Caverna is taking that a step further by requiring phones to remain in lockers all day, a change the school announced on social media.
Jackson-Hayes said technology has become a main source of entertainment for children over the past decade, with kids getting phones at earlier ages. She pointed to concerns about cyberbullying, which she said often happens outside school but then carries over into the building.
By limiting phone use during school hours, she said officials hope to cut down on filming, recording and social media stress that can lead to conflicts among students.
Jackson-Hayes also raised safety concerns about relying on cell phones in emergencies.
She said phones can create risks if they ring, light up or draw attention during lockdown situations when students and staff are supposed to stay quiet and out of sight.
Even though not everyone may like the new policy, Jackson-Hayes said administrators believe the change is in students’ best interest and is focused on preparing them for life after graduation.
Key Facts
– Caverna Independent High School is adopting a stricter cell phone policy.
– Students will be required to keep phones in their lockers during the school day.
– Assistant Principal Natasha Jackson-Hayes says the goal is to reduce distractions and improve learning.
– School officials also hope to cut cyberbullying and digital drama that spills into classrooms.
– The change follows a statewide law limiting cell phone and social media use in class.
– The new policy takes effect Aug. 12.
