Hannibal School District cell phone policies tightening up following new state legislation 

HANNIBAL, Mo. —  Cell phone policies throughout the Hannibal School District are set to tighten up in the 2025-2026 school year after a statewide ban on usage throughout the entire school day, including lunch, breaks and passing periods, was passed by Missouri lawmakers on Tuesday.

“I’m thrilled it’s on the governor’s desk,” said Ann Lear, the newest member of the Hannibal School Board. “At least several times a week, I have people tell me they don’t want phones in school. Electronics are really bothering our children.”

A 2023 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center found that, while the majority of teens believe the benefits of their smartphones outweigh the harms, 74 percent reported feeling happy and 72 percent reported feeling peaceful without them. 

Just under half of teens believe their phones help them do well in school, but another survey found that 72 percent of high school teachers and 33 percent of middle school teachers said cell phones were a major problem in the classroom. 

Lear stressed the importance of teachers refraining from unnecessary cell phone use throughout the school day as well, though the bill only applies to students. 

Superintendent Susan Johnson said that, while she agreed with Lear on the benefits of prohibiting smartphones, it will be difficult for students and parents to get used to the change. An additional Pew survey found that six in 10 high school teachers said their school’s cell phone policies were difficult to enforce.

Board member Ron Greenwell suggested speaking to nearby districts that have already implemented all-day prohibitions on cell phone usage. Greenwell said that administrators in Monroe City claimed they observed an 85 percent decrease in disciplinary action following the implementation of a restrictive cell phone policy, which prohibits use throughout the entire school day, including in locker rooms and bathrooms. According to Greenwell’s conversations with the Monroe City School District, the administrators said it was difficult for students at first but that things eventually calmed down. 

“It’s kind of neat to see kids actually talk to each other at lunch,” Greenwell said. 

The bill allows exceptions for authorized health and educational purposes, as well as in instances of emergencies.

Johnson provided an update on other legislative activities relevant to the district, particularly in regard to budget. The passage of HB2 provides:

• $4.28 billion in funding for the foundation formula (fully funded)
• $376.5 million in funding for school transportation (fully funded)
• $30 million in grant money for small schools
• $33.4 million in grant money for baseline teacher salaries (fully funded)
• $68.5 million for the Career Ladder program

Whitney Holliday provided a report on the Parents as Teachers program. According to its website, the goals of the program are to:

• “Increase parent knowledge of early childhood development and improve positive parenting practices
• Provide early detection of developmental delays and connection to services
• Improve parent, child, and family health and well-being
• Prevent child abuse and neglect
• Increase children’s school readiness and success
• Improve family economic well-being
• Strengthen community capacity and connectedness”

Holliday said that in the 2024-2025 school year, the program:

• Served 208 families and 267 children
• Conducted 1,197 personal visits
• Referred 110 families to the program throughout the state
• Provided 575 developmental screenings to children, from 4-months-old to kindergarten-aged
• Provided 175 kindergarten screenings
• Offered 17 opportunities for group connections in which families and children can interact and engage in developmentally appropriate activities
• Conducted 20 personal visits and 131 parenting classes at the Women’s Eastern Reception & Diagnostic Correctional Center in Vandalia

Johnson provided a report on the Career Ladder program, which “provides additional compensation to teachers for additional work outside of their contract” such as staying after school to assist individual students, enhance their curriculum and professional development. Teachers must have taught in the state for two years to be eligible to apply for the program. Of the 235 teachers who applied this year, more than 90 percent were approved and successfully executed plans.

Additionally, the board:

• Approved personnel for the 2025 summer school session, beginning June 2
• Approved an addendum to extend the district’s contract with substitute teacher agency ESS Midwest, Inc. to June 30, 2026 
• Approved 44 board policies, as part of Johnson’s policy review initiative
• Approved a motion by member Jeff Evans to amend the board’s policy on use of tobacco and vaping products to specifically include THC on the list of prohibited substances

The board’s next meeting is set to take place at 6 p.m. on June 18 in the Hannibal Middle School auditorium, located at 4700 McMasters Avenue in Hannibal.
A copy of the board’s entire informational packet for the May 2025 meeting can be found here.