MARIETTA — One metro school district is reporting big progress with a pilot program requiring kids to lock up their cell phones during the school day.

The Marietta School Board will start the conversation on Tuesday on expanding the that policy to other schools in the district.

Since banning middle school students from having their cell phones in class, the district reports a 96 percent drop in student phone usage. Teachers report students are more focused and engaging with each other.

Some high schoolers are not too happy with the idea. one Marietta High School student’s online petition has gathered more than 800 signatures against the cell phone ban in just 24 hours.