High schools nationwide continue to battle with the pervasive presence of technology in the classrooms. Last year, under Cari Harrison’s leadership as Dean of Students, there was an introduction to the idea of a stricter enforcement of phone policy. This happened with the intentions of reducing distractions and promoting a stronger sense of engagement within the Bellarmine student community.
With Superintendent Chris Reykdal’s announcement of initiative to “reduce the use of cellphones in class”, the Office of Superintendent Public Instruction (OSPI) published a brief asking Washington schools to update their phone policy by the 2025-26 school year. At Bellarmine specifically, students and staff alike are getting a headstart to the removal of phones in the learning environment with the help of new Dean of Students Willie London. Now, there is a stronger sense of enforcement with an increased discipline in approaching the usage of technology on campus.
As outlined in the Bellarmine handbook, the policy states “Cell phones must be turned off and not visible on campus from the first bell for class that day and continuing through the end of the school day” (43).
This policy leaves minimal room for ambiguity; however, Dean London is the first to uniformly apply this policy in accordance to the rules directly stated in the student handbook.
In a recent interview, London said, “If you want to be here, at a Catholic, Jesuit, private school, then why do you want to act like a public school? There are standards. […] There are certain areas where you need discipline to say, ‘I can’t do that here’”. Dean London has high regards for upholding the reputation of Bellarmine and what it means to be a Bellarmine student that upholds said values.
The stricter enforcement of phones has not gone unnoticed within the student body.
Dean London has stated he has confiscated over 30 phones in a school day and has received around 60 emails regarding the new enforcement. Now, Dean London has stated that some days pass where he has no phones collected and has not received more emails.
With the guidance of new faculty this year, there is a new level of discipline to student life culture on campus. As these newly enforced rules, Dean London has made it especially clear that the phone policy is not to be harsh on students or take away phones, but to foster a sense of focused engagement within our community.
As Bellarmine continues to navigate this newly enforced phone policy, the coming months will bring lasting change to the culture at our school.
