WHEELING — A new cell phone policy at Wheeling Park High School has now been in effect for a full semester, and Principal Meredith Dailer sees positive effects stemming from the new rules.

Most notably, there has been a sharp decrease in the number of failing students that likely can be attributed to the policy, according to Dailer.

The policy requires students when they enter a classroom to place their cellphones in a numbered pocket holder that is hung in each classroom. They retrieve it when the bell rings and do the same thing in their next class.

The policy allows the students access to their phones in between classes and at lunch time.

But when a student fails to abide by the rules and has multiple offenses, they are directed to bring their cellphone to the main office. It is locked up there until the end of the school day.

Dailer said the last time she checked there had been 120 “cell phone jail” instances since the start of school.

“We have had a positive semester,” Dailer said. “The kids and teachers share the same expectations. We continue to reinforce that when they come into the classroom the phone goes into that pocket and remains there until the end of class.”

There was some pushback in the beginning, but the students now like that they can still use their cell phones in the hallways between classes and at lunch, she said.

“What we have noticed is that without their cell phones more children are engaged when they are in the classroom,” Dailer continued. “We’ve seen about a 25% reduction in failures since this policy was enacted.”

Assistant Superintendent Rick Jones previously reported the number of fights between at WPHS had decreased this semester with students not having as much access to their phones to antagonize or arrange angry meetings.

“I don’t know about that, but I do know that kids can’t communicate and stage things when they don’t have access to their phones,” Dailer said.

Morgantown and Greenbrier East high schools also have cell phone policies, and several others have reached out to WPHS seeking information on their policy, she noted.

“We’ve certainly have had the opportunity to share our practice,” she continued. “I sat in on a call with the state school superintendent (Michele Blatt) to share information about the implementation of our policy.”

In the beginning, there was actually more pushback from parents than students about the policy, Dailer said.

“The first couple of days there were conversations about their not wanting anybody touching their kids’ phones,” she explained. “Now that they see how this works, there has been very little pushback. Before, the parents weren’t there. They didn’t see the process. At this point, we are pleased with how we’ve struck a balance with kids and family members.”