For some students, the school day starts hours before the first bell. From early morning buses to late-night rides home, commuting has always been part of student life. But for students at BSA, who come from all over the city and beyond to pursue their art, staying connected has become especially difficult this year.
With the new phone ban in place, many students who travel long distances say they’ve lost the ability to reach out to their families once they arrive on campus. Baltimore City Public Schools’ (BCPS) 2025–2026 districtwide policy requires students to lock their phones in pouches or store them in lockers during the entire school day. The goal was to limit distractions and promote focus, but for commuting students, it’s created a whole set of new problems.
Without access to their phones, these students find themselves cut off from vital communication that helps coordinate rides, inform family members about schedule changes, or provide updates about their safety. What was meant to create a better learning environment has introduced stress, uncertainty, and a sense of isolation for many who rely on their phones to manage their complex daily routines.
For students with long commutes, communication isn’t just convenient — it’s essential. Sophomore dancer Maggie Zimmerman spends more than two hours commuting every day. “It’s about an hour and ten minutes with no traffic on the way to school, then usually around an hour and a half going home,” she said.
Before the ban, students like Zimmerman used their phones throughout the day to coordinate rides or warn parents about traffic. “Last year my mom would text me, ‘Hey, come out fast, traffic is really bad,’ but now I can’t see that until I get my phone from my locker,” she said. “Sometimes I have no idea what’s going on until after school.”
For many students like Zimmerman, moments like these add unnecessary stress to an already long day.
The change hasn’t just affected students — it’s disrupted entire carpools and family systems. Senior actor Cristal Santiago says after-school pickups have become chaotic. “Before the phone ban, I used my phone every day to text my mom about rides or schedule changes,” she explained. “Now, I don’t really know who’s picking me up until after school when I get my phone back.”
Her carpool group’s plans shift daily, and without real-time communication, she’s often left guessing.
Sophomore vocalist Kolby Brooke agrees that the ban makes life much more difficult for both parents and students. “Every day I used to text my dad when he got home or when he was on the way,” he said. “Now, if I want to hang out with friends or if there’s traffic, I can’t tell him until after school. It’s hard to coordinate things like that anymore.”
Junior actor Vivian McCord described how confusing carpool coordination has become. “The system’s been really wonky so far,” they said. “It’s been frustrating for my family and everyone in my carpool because without being able to text, there’s just a lot of confusion about who’s driving or where we’re meeting.”
To contact this writer, email Muse Newspaper at musebsa@bsfa.org.
Featured photo by Josefina Olsavsky for The Muse.
