Jennings students head back to school with new cell phone policy

Some northeastern Oklahoma students are heading back to the classroom as the 2025-26 school year begins on Monday, Aug. 4.

Jennings Public Schools is the first district in the region to return, with others set to follow in the coming weeks. Superintendent Derrick Meador said he’s ready for the new year.

Statewide Cell Phone Ban Takes Effect

This year, students across Oklahoma will experience a new rule in their school day: a restriction on cell phone and personal electronic device use from the first bell to the last.

RELATED STORY: Can my kid bring a phone to school in Oklahoma?

The change stems from Senate Bill 139, which requires districts to enforce a first-bell to last-bell ban on device use. Jennings already had a policy in place, but Meador said the district updated its language to reflect the statewide requirement.

“It’s the word distractions, and we’re trying to minimize distractions,” Meador said. “That’s another thing that can create a lot of distractions, and we’re going to take that out of the equation.”

How Jennings is Implementing the Rule

At Jennings, students must place their devices in a lock box each morning. A teacher will hold onto the devices until the end of the school day, when they’ll be returned to students.

The district has a process in place for parents who need to reach their children during the day. That includes calling the front office and, if needed, bringing the student into the office to communicate.

RELATED STORY: Oklahoma back-to-school guide 2025-2026

Back to School at 7:55 A.M.

Classes began at 7:55 a.m. Monday for Jennings students, marking the first official school day of the new academic year under the updated policy.

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