This year, Newton High School has put new policies in place after Chad Nulik has taken the chair as the new head principal. Nulik and his team have established new policies such as restricted phones in classrooms, no wireless headphones, and a stricter dress code. These policies differ from the ones in the past because students were able to have their phones in some classes, and use wireless headphones and the dress code was less strict. 

The 2024-2025 handbook states that if there is a cell phone violation the first time it will have to be held at the office for the rest of the school day and a parent will be notified by the teacher. The second time the phone will be held at the office, an administrator will contact the parents and one hour of detention, and the third violation will be cell phone held at the front desk, the administrator will contact a parent, one hour of detention, and the phone will not be allowed on campus for a week. 

“Honestly they’re not really different. They’re mostly the same because at Chisholm we had the same phone rules except you couldn’t have them in the halls and then I think they’re just really all the same honestly,” said freshman Noah Calett. 

Being in class some students are attached to their phones, which causes them to get in trouble. Along with not being able to use phones anymore, some students debate whether they believe this is good for them.

“I’ve noticed that since we don’t have our phones anymore, students are talking more and they are getting everybody else involved so then more students aren’t focused,” senior Trista Blackwell said.

 Sophomore Allison Mercado said it can be a little weird for the sophomores because students thought that they finally escaped middle school and the feeling of being locked down to only have a year with this sense of “freedom,” to now going back to the same or even stricter rules.

“It’s nice to hear that our principal wants us to succeed, I just think there should be more of a way we can enjoy learning,” Mercado said. “We’re high schoolers and this is not middle school … we know when we’re supposed to take our phone out and when we’re not supposed to. I don’t feel as responsible as a high schooler should.” 

Calett said the dress code is an issue in more classrooms this year. Students are getting called out for what they are wearing and having to cover up. 

“You’re buying it. It should be the guy’s fault if they’re paying attention to that instead of working,” said Calett.

Mercado believes that the dress code is getting even more enforced.

“I can understand shorts and skirts, [or] showing cleavage but I don’t think there should be elbows or arms as much. I don’t know how shoulders are attractive to people,” said Mercado.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Some seniors have struggled with the newly enforced policies. Prior to this year, students were allowed to have phones or use wireless headphones based on the teacher’s classroom rules.

“It’s kind of like a bigger change because I did have all that freedom, and going straight into it like this kinda sucks because sometimes I have my phone in my pocket and I’ll accidentally pull it out,” Blackwell said. 

Although some students may not agree with the policies, there are reasons behind it. Nulik spoke out on why he has decided to enforce these rules. 

“I’m not doing it because I hate cell phones –  I’m doing it because I want kids to learn while they’re here,” Nulik said, “I believe that every second that we take, everything that we do is important, you’re getting opportunities to learn stuff that a lot of people take for granted,” Nulik said.