New Cell Phone policy for the student community

August 11, 2026

Dear Manistique Area Schools Community,

Manistique Area Schools is committed to providing a safe, focused, and distraction-free learning
environment for all students. To support academic engagement and foster face-to-face social
connections, and in compliance with state law, we are implementing an updated cellphone policy
for the coming school year. This letter is written to help us all prepare our students for this
policy change.

Effective with the start of our new school year on August 26, students in our schools are not
permitted to use cellular phone or smart devices during instructional hours. The rationale is
simple: it is hard for students to learn or be part of an effective classroom experience while
sending texts and video images back-and-forth to friends, relatives, or others in the classroom or
posting to Facebook or other apps and sites.

Prohibited Devices

- Cell phones of any make or model.
- Smartwatches (including Apple Watches, Garmin, and tech-enabled fitness trackers capable of
sending or receiving texts).
- Smart glasses (including Meta Glasses and any wearable recording tech).

Policy Guidelines

- Duration: Devices must be turned off and put away from the first bell to the final bell. There will
exceptions made during student lunches.
- Storage: Items must remain out of sight in student lockers.
- Violations: Non-compliant devices will be collected by staff and held in the main office for
parent pickup. The student handbook will cover these details.

The "Why" Behind This Change

In addition to complying with state law, our classrooms must be spaces where students can focus
fully on learning. Academic research and our own observations show that secret texting and
constant notifications severely disrupt student attention spans. Furthermore, wearable recording
technology like smart glasses poses a significant risk to student privacy and academic integrity.
By removing these digital distractions, we aim to decrease cyber-bullying, reduce social anxiety,
and help our students build stronger, real-world relationships with their peers.

Maintaining Contact with Your Child

We understand that parents need to reach their children during emergency situations.

- To reach a student: Call the school building’s main office. Staff will deliver urgent messages
immediately.

- For student emergencies: Students may use the main office phones to contact a parent or
guardian during designated breaks.

Thank you for your partnership, understanding, and support as we work together to prioritize the
education and well-being of our students.

Sincerely,

Matt Lukshaitis, Superintendent