Feb. 4, 2026 noon
(WGTD)--It appears that it’s just a matter of time before the use of cell phones by students is banned in all Racine Unified schools, from the start of the school day to the end of the day.
Board members have expressed support for such a ban, on top of a recent state mandate that prohibits students from using cell phones during instructional times.
At a meeting this week, board member Michael Bellagio joined other board members in saying that cell phones are a big distraction, and that something needs to be done to improve student achievement levels. "We need to make drastic changes," he said. "We all know that this is a huge problem--cell phones."
Administration is expected to come up with a plan to implement the bell-to-bell cell phone ban. Formal action to approve such a prohibition is expected to come in the weeks ahead.
One hesitation is moving forward might be a fear of the reaction of some parents. But a couple of board members said they're willing to persevere. "We can't live on fear," Bellagio said. Another board member wondered out loud whether some parents would be so incensed that they'd pull their kids from the district.
Kenosha Unified is still studying its response to the recent state mandate on no student cell phone use during instructional times.
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