Independence High School will not allow students to use cell phones in class this year. In addition to cellphones, IHS will also not allow air pods, Bluetooth headphones or smartwatches. Students will be allowed to use them before and after school, at lunch, and in between classes. This means that students can not use their phones for calculators, checking time, music, reading a book, checking their grades or for any other reason during class. Parents can call the office to relay messages to students or reach their students by email.

Principal Kurt Seiler says the difficulties they face with students using phones in the classroom include students taking pictures of other students without permission and posting to social media, taking pictures and videos and posting to TikTok during the school day, watching movies or listening to music while in class and participating in group texts during the day to make fun of other students and teachers. A description of the consequences for not following IHS policies will be provided to students at the beginning of the school year.