Cell Phones

The new rules require phones and devices such as smart watches, tablets and MP3 players to be put away unless a student is using it for “educational purposes” and granted permission from the instructor. But students can have them on their person, provided they "are not used, seen or heard during instructional time."

The district's phone policy was updated in a revision to Unit 5’s student behavior code.

District 87 will implement the ban in the fall, with a structure of tiered consequences for violations. District officials hope teachers and parents will help support it.

Rules regarding cell phone use in school varies by district, and sometimes even by school, across McLean County. The Illinois Senate has passed a bill aimed at ending phone use during class instruction.

Bloomington High School's principal says cell phones are to blame for a lot of student disciplinary and academic concerns.

Limits already are in place in some Illinois school districts

District 87 is not considering a district-wide cell phone ban for students during school hours, according to superintendent David Mouser. Districts across the country are currently experimenting with such bans starting this fall.

The Unit 5 school board wants the administration to consider a ban on cell phones in district schools.

Emergency dispatchers in central Illinois and other states say they’ve seen a significant spike in accidental 911 calls in recent weeks – and they suspect an update to the Android mobile operating system is to blame.

The Illinois Commerce Commission has approved implementation of a new area code for people in parts of central and north central Illinois.