Informational update from ARHS: Followup from Parent/Guardian Info Session: Your Doorman Tech Questions Answered

Dear ARHS families,

As you know, a major focus for our school this year is to rethink and reshape students’ cell phone use at school. The goal of this work has remained consistent: to protect students’ ability to focus, engage, and learn during the school day. This work also prepares us for forthcoming legislation that will significantly restrict students’ access to phones during the school day, and our shifts are designed to respond to increases in troubling student mental health trends associated with technology use. With those three priorities in mind, I have worked with a variety of school and District staff to plan for the cell phone management program shift we will begin on September 16.

Part of this work has been to educate families on the program, including the app, Doorman, which will be a key tool in achieving the priorities above. Last night, we hosted the second of two informational sessions for parents and guardians, with the goal of clarifying questions about the app and the goals of the program. Thank you to the families who attended last night's session about Doorman. For those who missed the session, you are welcome to view it here (passcode is $6XSP8TY). A recording of last week's parent session is here (passcode is nlK+!A9U).  

Other key information about our cell phone management program:

• Timeline: We will be phasing in Doorman in the coming weeks, beginning after we have had one full rotation of the schedule:
  • Sept. 16: Students will begin using the app, but it will not be used for attendance. That day, we will conduct a full-school Emergency Unlock “drill”
  • Sept. 25: Attendance will be linked to Doorman
• Adding and Using the App: Students will receive instructions next week about how to add the app and how to 'tap in' to their first period class.
• Program Assessment: We will be assessing - and reporting out - on the program at the 1-month, 2-month, midyear, and end-of-year marks. 
• Cell Phone Procedures in the Meantime: Teachers will be using all of the same protocols from 2025-2026 to manage cell phones in their classrooms (i.e., shoe caddies and other storage options in their classrooms). Students may use their personal devices during passing time and at lunch as we prepare for the transition later in the month.
• Questions? Please see the ARHS Doorman FAQ. 
  • There are a few new questions, which have been added to the document, including:
    • What happens to messages and other data while a phone is in restricted mode?
    • The Privacy Policy on Doorman’s website was updated on September 1, 2026. What changed, and how does this impact the District’s agreement with Doorman?

Thank you for your partnership and support as we address these challenges together. I hope you and your families enjoy the long weekend.

Sincerely,
Sean Bevan
Principal, ARHS