In the earlier years of cellphones, they were often banned from schools because they were seen as distractions. But currently, at least one administrator in Wareham is looking at ways to utilize students’ cellphones to their advantage.

Wareham Middle School Principal Dan Minkle laid out a series of goals to the School Committee Wednesday evening, with one being an effort towards utilizing students cell phones within the curriculum.

Minkle said he and his staff are currently researching ways to let students use the technology that many of them already possess in their pockets and backpacks, but that nothing is set in stone.

“They all have them,” said Minkle, adding that several other districts, including some local, are already doing similar things with students' cell phones. “We’re trying to figure out a way to utilize that for instruction.”

As far as technology is concerned, Minkle said they’re currently working to ensure that every computer within the school is up-and-running before next school year, and he hopes to have iPads for every student in the seventh grade among several other technology-related goals.

The idea for the cell phones is just part of an overall effort to boost technology at the school and across Wareham public schools.

School Committee Vice-Chairman Michael Flaherty questioned Minkle’s statement that all students have cell phones, noting that around 29 percent of students within the school system don’t even have wireless internet access in their homes.

“A vast majority of them have [cellphones],” said Minkle. “That’s something that we’re going to continue to explore. We would need to make accommodations (for those that do not have access to a cell phone). Every child would have one.”

The 2014-15 handbook (which was also introduced at the meeting) for Wareham Public schools permits the use of cellphones by students, including wording that allows teachers to implement them into their curriculums. It also says that teachers or administrators may remove a students phone from his or her possession if they feel it is distracting the student or other students from learning.

The conversation on technology was part of an overall look at school improvement plans across Wareham Public Schools. Several administrators from other schools including Minot Forest Elementary, Decas Elementary, Wareham High School, and West Wareham Academy were on hand to review past goals and introduce future goals.