Hillhouse Principal: Student Phone Use On The Rise

by Maya McFadden The New Haven independent

Hillhouse Principal Antoine Billy sent out an email to students, staff, and families Wednesday acknowledging “an increase in student cell phone usage during the school day” — and outlining progressive discipline, up to and including a one-day suspension, for violators of the high school’s phone-free policy.

Billy sent out that email at 8:30 a.m. with the subject line: “Important Reminder: Hillhouse Phone Policy & Progressive Consequences (March 23 – June 23)”

“As a reminder, Hillhouse High School has a clear and established phone policy designed to support a focused, distraction‑free academic environment,” Billy wrote, while linking to this document.

Billy’s email comes six months after the New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) district rolled out magnetically sealed Yondr pouches to all of the city’s public high schools, as part of an effort to discourage phone use during the school day.

In a follow-up comment provided to the Independent Wednesday, NHPS spokesperson Justin Harmon said that increase phone usage in school is not unique to Hillhouse.

“After we heard reports about instances where students stored burners in the pouches,” Harmon said, “we asked principals across the district to remind students and staff about the policy and its enforcement.”

Billy’s email reminded staff, students, and families about the consequences for students who fail to use the Yondr pouches correctly or who opening them without permission. 

He wrote that, starting next week, Hillhouse students who are caught without their phone in a Yonder pouch will have their device stored in the school’s main office until the end of the day. That student will also have to complete the remainder of the day in In‑School Support (ISS).

If a student refuses to turn in their phone, Billy wrote, they will be sent home for one day of Out-of-School Suspension (OSS).

“Our goal is not to punish students but to reinforce a safe, structured, and distraction‑free learning environment,” Billy wrote. “Phones continue to be a major obstacle to student focus, engagement, and overall academic success. Maintaining a phone‑free school day ensures that all students are able to fully participate in meaningful learning.”

Harmon told the Independent that there has been “no pause in the implementation of the [district-wide phone-free] policy, at Hillhouse or elsewhere. We expect to encounter resistance from teen-agers, but we have to drive home to them that we will enforce the policy. That was what Principal Billy was doing.”

See below for Billy’s email in full.

Important Reminder: Hillhouse Phone Policy & Progressive Consequences (March 23 – June 23)

Dear Hillhouse Families and School Community,

I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to address an important concern that has recently impacted our school environment—an increase in student cell phone usage during the school day.

As a reminder, Hillhouse High School has a clear and established phone policy designed to support a focused, distraction‑free academic environment. Please take a moment to review our full policy here:

Phone Policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q3O1DPcT5ZZzfmsNf5uF6JtRFVhCmBgS/edit

We want to specifically highlight the expectations and consequences associated with the third infraction, which outlines the progressive steps taken when a student continues to violate the phone policy.

Progressive Consequences (March 23 – June 23)

Beginning Monday, March 23, and continuing through June 23, Hillhouse will implement progressive consequences for any student who has an unpouched phone that is visible or in use anywhere within our school community.

If a student is seen with an unpouched phone:

• The phone will be collected and held in the Main Office until the end of the day.
• The student will complete the remainder of the day in In‑School Support (ISS).

If a student refuses to turn in the phone:

• The student will be sent home for one day of Out‑of‑School Suspension (OSS).

Our goal is not to punish students but to reinforce a safe, structured, and distraction‑free learning environment. Phones continue to be a major obstacle to student focus, engagement, and overall academic success. Maintaining a phone‑free school day ensures that all students are able to fully participate in meaningful learning.

Our Commitment

Thank you for partnering with us in reinforcing these expectations at home. Your support is essential in helping create a school environment where every student can thrive academically and socially.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Strive for Greatness!

Dr. Antoine L. Billy

Principal

James Hillhouse High School