MONTPELIER — Although Montpelier High School (MHS) already has a phone ban in place, this fall marks the first year of a new statewide device ban in all Vermont schools. Unlike the earlier ban at MHS, this new state device ban goes further.
In accordance with Vermont’s new statewide phone ban, all electronic devices connected to the internet, excluding school-provided ones, are not allowed in schools. Montpelier High Principal Jason Gingold said the school district interprets this as “no personal electronics.”
So, this year at MHS personal electronics such as phones and computers are banned, as well as devices such as AirPods, wireless headphones, and smartwatches that connect to the internet.
Before the statewide ban was enacted, MHS did a trial run in the 2025–2026 school year in which students had to either leave their phones in a special cart (for grades 9 and 10), or in a phone cubby (for grades 11 and 12).
According to Gingold, this phone ban aimed to minimize classroom disruptions, increase learning and student mental health, and promote social interaction.
The success of the phone ban in its first year is debated within the school, Principal Jason Gingold said, pointing to two factions among staff members.
One group believed the phone ban had not been successful because students did not always follow the rules, sometimes keeping phones with them during the school day.
The other group believed that even with some students ignoring the rule, the phone ban was successful because it ended many classroom distractions.
Last school year, however, although phones were banned during the school day, personal computers became a substitute for phone use in class. As a result, distractions from phones decreased, but distractions from computers increased.
“I saw students replace their phone with a Chromebook or their own device. And so, I saw a lot more interaction, engagement, but there were still a lot of students who were disengaged, because they were able to just nonstop play computer games …” said Librarian Sue Monmaney, a member of the school’s phone committee.
Now, in response to the excess personal computer use at MHS last year, the only devices allowed to be accessed during class time are school-provided Chromebooks.
However, an exception was put in place for students in grades 11 and 12, who have free blocks and school privileges, and can use their own devices in areas such as the library when they do not have class.
For some students, such as junior Phoebe Bakeman, this shift away from personal devices has been easy because she said she has only ever used her school-provided Chromebook.
Similarly, senior Gitana Ford, who also only uses her school computer, said she has not been directly affected by the ban, but wishes it did not include other electronics such as her AirPods.
But other students say they have been more directly affected by the personal electronics ban.
Junior Ella Groff, a member of the Student Council, used her own computer last year for all classwork, including club activities. This year that is not an option, which she said has presented challenges.
With the new restrictions on electronics, students are having trouble accessing websites they use for school-related work, such as YouTube and Canva.
“Today I was making a poster for student council, advertising homecoming, and I wasn’t allowed to connect to Canva to send Mr. Gingold my poster,” said Groff.
An added factor for students and staff is that school policies must comply with state and federal guidelines; as those rules change, so could the rules at MHS. This means that next year the electronics policies at MHS could look entirely different, depending on what happens next in national and statewide politics.
