BUTLER TWP — Butler Area School District is taking a proactive approach to cellphone usage in the district’s schools.

The district’s board voted unanimously Monday evening, July 13, to approve the first reading of a policy change that would create a bell-to-bell cellphone ban starting with the upcoming school year.

Superintendent Brian White said implementing a ban prior to the start of the year will help avoid any mid-year confusion or having to rush to implement a state law. A bill moving through the General Assembly would prohibit the use of cellphones by students in the state’s public schools during school hours.

“I think it’ll be more disruptive and more challenging from an operational standpoint to do this at the last minute or in the middle of semester,” White said.

White said that he has read studies that show phones have a “profound” impact on students’ performance and mental health.

The ban includes all students in the district, but current policy already bars students between kindergarten and eighth grade from using phones during the school day.

White added the language in their policy is consistent with other districts in the county. Knoch and Karns City also recently announced they will be implementing a bell-to-bell ban with the upcoming year.

Under the policy, students must leave their phones in their bags and keep them turned off during the entire school day.

The policy will require a second reading at the next voting school board meeting scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Aug. 10.