Sisters students are taking the state-mandates ban on cell phone devices in stride — at least so student and teacher reactions in the early days of adoption at Sisters schools would indicate. On July 2, Governor Tina Kotek signed Executive Order 25-09, which aims to improve student educational outcomes and mental well-being across the state by prohibiting cell phone use by students during the school day in Oregon’s K-12 public schools. “Oregon’s schools should be a place where students find belonging, support, and the joy of learning something new,” Governor Kotek said. “The research is clear: cell phone use can create a trifecta of consequences for our young people — mental health issues, safety in school, and distraction from learning. Teacher Heidi Dixon told The Nugget, “So far, the new cell phone policy has allowed me to spend more time attending to student learning.