EVANSTON — Uinta County School District 1 Superintendent Ryan Thomas can pinpoint the moment he knew students using cellphones in classrooms was a problem that could no longer be ignored.

“It happened toward the end of not last year, but of the previous school year,” he said. "I had an opportunity to sub in one of our advanced math classes (at Evanston High School). In the class there was a sign from the teacher that said, ‘No Cellphones’ on the wall.

"I knew that the high school had a policy in place previously that cellphones should be put away during instructional time.”

Thomas observed that despite the school’s policy and the teacher’s sign, a few students had their phones out and on their desks while they worked anyway.

“So I walk back and I say, ‘Please put your cellphones away.’

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