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DES MOINES, Iowa — Cell phones could be on the way out in Des Moines Public Schools.

Hoover High School was the first school in the district with a ban, requiring students to store phones in their backpacks during class.

Tuesday night, the Des Moines School Board considered expanding the policy to all Des Moines schools. A petition signed by more than 800 Des Moines parents prompted the board to consider the change.

Every speaker at Tuesday’s meeting spoke in support of a cell phone ban. Most raised concerns about cell phone distractions in the classroom and the impact social media can have on children’s mental health. They also mentioned the difficult position teachers are in with phones in the classroom, and how successful bans like Hoover’s have been nationwide.

“I’ve only been able to find one district anywhere in the country that had a ban and did anything to back off of that ban,” said parent, and Iowa State Auditor, Rob Sand.

“Having to put the teachers in the position to regulate this class by class, child by child is untenable,” Ryan Howell told the board.

Annie Brandt started the petition to ban cell phones. She said, “I have taught financial literacy in the classroom at East and North, so I see kids on their cell phones; I have nieces who go to Roosevelt. My kids are in elementary school, they don’t have cell phones yet but I want there to be a good policy in place so that when they do have cell phones they can learn in the classroom.”

While the board did not make any final decisions, members did suggest that one could come soon and a new policy could be introduced as soon as next semester.