When fifth-grade students at Santa Barbara Community Academy walked into Shawna Ray’s class on Wednesday, they were met with superhero decor on the walls.

Ray — who has been a teacher for 16 years — asked her students to write about what they know about superheroes.

She told Noozhawk that she uses superheroes in her classroom decorations and lesson plans in the hope that it inspires students to be a hero in their own lives.

“(Superheroes) care about other people, and superheroes don’t always have to wear capes,” Ray said. “I want kids to know that whatever makes them special, whatever makes them unique, we’re going to use that this year to build a great community.”

Wednesday marked the first day of school for the Santa Barbara Unified School District.

Teachers and staff like Ray are focused on building strong school communities and enforcing the district’s new “tech with intention” policy, which, among other things, banned YouTube on all iPads.

Teachers can still link to videos through the online learning platform Canvas, but students can’t watch anything else on the platform.

Students also can’t use their own laptops or tablets in class.

“Now they have to use our iPad because we have very specific intentions around the iPad,” said Valarie Labrentz, the new principal at Santa Barbara Junior High.

“We’ve even told our teachers, ‘Please no free iPad time.’ Every moment on the tech should be intentional about what they’re doing.”

Labrentz — who comes to Santa Barbara from the Kern High School District — said the policy helps to eliminate distractions in class and keep students focused on learning.

Students at Santa Barbara Junior High also have to put their phones in black signal-blocking pouches, which they keep in their backpacks.

Other schools utilize a “phone hotel” in class, where students put their phones in a pouch at the front of the classroom.

If a student gets caught using their phone, Labrentz said they will have to go to the office. Staff will call the student’s parents, and the phone will be left at the office for the parent or guardian to pick up.

Kareem Battle, who has taught AVID at the junior high for 29 years, said not having phones or tablets in class makes it easier for students to pay attention and focus on their mental health.

“It’s really difficult when they have phones on all the time,” Battle said. “When it’s off and away, it makes it so much easier to have them paying attention to what we’re talking about in class and what we’re doing and how we’re learning. I think that’s key for our success.”

Several teachers who spoke to Noozhawk said they’re excited about the new policy. Some were already using less technology in their curriculum to combat artificial intelligence usage and tech fatigue.

Students, however, have mixed feelings about not being able to access YouTube.

Bea Flagiello, a Santa Barbara High School junior, said she doesn’t like the new technology policy.

“I think having my own computer last year helped me in many different ways. Some kids obviously will use technology in the way they shouldn’t, but kids can use whatever they want in the way they shouldn’t, no matter what it is,” she said.

Jacqueline Durling, another Santa Barbara High School junior, said she would typically use YouTube for extra support while studying for math and history or Advanced Placement exams.

“Obviously, they can be cheating sources, but I feel like (YouTube) also helps a lot of people get extra support, especially if they can’t get tutors or something like that,” Durling said. 

Despite the change, Durling said she’s excited about the new year, taking new classes and seeing friends.

She is also looking forward to the upcoming volleyball season.