Above: Algonquin is requiring students to use a new app that disables most phone features if they want their phone in the school during school hours. (image cropped from school website)
Earlier this week, I shared the NSBORO Schools Back to School newsletter highlighting a focus on improving the balance of tech use in the schools.
The newsletter did not mention a major change for this school year that will ban Algonquin Regional High School students’ use of cell phones during the school day — including free periods and lunches.
The change appears to be the school’s way of addressing pending state legislation.
Readers may be aware that that this year both the state senate and house passed bills to restrict student phone use. But those still need to be reconciled into a version to advance to the Governor.
Administrators didn’t wait for a new law to pass before tackling the issue. As of the start of school next week, students have three options:
- Keep phones at home
- Drop them in the office at the start of the school day
- Or install “Doorman” — a software app designed to disable use of most of the phone’s functions during school hours
According to messages on social media, a message to parents gives noon this Friday, August 28th, to submit the form to Opt Out from using the app. [Note: Since my kids have both graduated, I no longer have access to messages that are directed only to ARHS families. If you are a parent of an enrolled student, check your emails, texts, and/or Parent Square notifications for the latest updates and details from the school.]
In prior years, Algonquin allowed kids to use cell phone during free times. The student handbook read:
Cell phones and other electronic devices may be used before and after school, during passing time, and during lunch, in effect, during unstructured and non-learning times of the school day.
For years, the policy did seek to restrict phone use during regular class time:
Unless otherwise directed by teachers or staff, personal cell phones and other related electronic devices must be off, and put aside, during class. . .
Improper and non-approved use of cell phones . . . can result in the student being sent to the appropriate administrator to surrender the device.
But (according to my kids), many teachers struggled with (or ignored) students repeatedly ignoring the rules.
Last September, the school promoted a change they made that was meant to help with that — the adoption of Cell phone caddies in every classroom:
All teachers now require students to place their phones in a caddy at the start of class. Perhaps unpopular with some students, the change has delivered positive results so far: teachers report that students are more attentive, make fewer unnecessary trips out of class, and engage more socially (when appropriate).
My understanding is that (again) many students repeatedly ignored the caddies.
I’m assuming that was one of the reasons behind the school trying a different approach to cutting off phone use for the coming school year.
Another reason for moving ahead appears to be the growing body of evidence about the harms of cell phone and social media use. That includes results of a a MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey of NSBORO middle & high school students conducted in fall 2025.
Students were asked about their cell phone use. The results were presented to Combined School Committees on June 15th.
At the June 17th Regional School Committee meeting, ARHS Principal Sean Bevan updated on the school’s research into the Doorman app for the coming year.
During the discussion, Assistant Superintendent Stefanie Reinhorn referred to the survey results as one of the factors. She said that the app implementation was part of the larger “effort around that creating that distraction-free environment” to “support digital well-being”.
Upon questioning, Bevan explained that the app would no longer allow phone use during free time, since state legislations was looking at “bell-to-bell”.
The school website has a page dedicated to information about the Doorman app. It pitches:
Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, Algonquin Regional High School is implementing Doorman to help create a school environment where students can be more focused, present, and connected throughout the school day.
Doorman allows students to keep their phones with them while reducing access during the school day, helping to minimize distractions without requiring students to turn in or physically lock away their devices. This approach was selected after reviewing student and family feedback and consulting with school and district stakeholder groups.
The FAQs detail:
In the days leading up to school reopening, all students will receive instructions on how to download Doorman. Once the app is installed, students will “tap in” with their phones as they enter their first class each day. This tap-in serves two purposes: it records the student’s daily attendance and activates Doorman’s school-day settings. Students who do not tap in will be marked absent.
When Doorman is activated, most non-approved apps and notifications are disabled for the duration of the school day. Students will continue to have access to essential functions, including making or receiving emergency calls, and to apps required for students with specific medical or learning needs (e.g., glucose monitoring, screen readers, etc.). We will be working with the School Nurses and our Special Education team to identify students who rely on specific apps for medical or learning needs. . .
Students will be able to unlock their phones at any time. Doing so immediately restores full access to the device and automatically notifies school administrators that the phone has been unlocked. . .
Students who repeatedly unlock their phones without an approved reason or otherwise circumvent the system’s expectations may face disciplinary consequences.
As for opting out:
students and families will receive an email with information on how to opt out of using Doorman. If this is something you are considering, please monitor your email so you may complete the opt-out process at that time.
If a student chooses not to use the app on their phone but decides to bring their phone to school, they must drop it off in one of the administrative offices for the duration of the school day. Their attendance will be noted when they do so. This will be mandatory. . .
If a student reports that they don’t have their phone at school, we will call home to confirm the choice. Those students’ attendance will be marked by their first-period teacher. Before the opening of school, students and families will receive an email with information on how to opt out of using Doorman. If your child will not bring a cell phone to school, please monitor your email so you may complete the opt-out process at that time.
Notably, this year, the school is also shifting to requiring students to use chromebooks provided by the school district. Although there were also several unrelated reasons for that change, Bevan noted that the timing will help make the change more effective.
He told the Regional School Committee that if students were using personal computing devices, they could use those to work around the restrictions — essentially still having a phone.
