Students at Kearns High School may soon have to revive a retro beauty accessory: the compact mirror.

About a month ago, the school removed all mirrors from its restrooms in an effort to dissuade students from “lingering” and running late for class, Granite School District officials said.

And, come fall, students won’t be able to use their cellphone cameras to check their reflection, either. That’s because a new law banning cellphone use during the school day — including during lunch and free periods — takes effect July 1.

District officials said students at Kearns High were “spending too much time in the bathroom,” distracting them from academics.

“At their discretion, our schools can choose to remove mirrors from bathrooms in an effort to prevent lingering in the bathrooms,” said Luke Allen, a district spokesperson.

“Students spending too much time in the bathrooms can lead to numerous issues,” Allen continued, “including overcrowding, tardiness and vandalism.”

Allen said that other secondary schools within Granite School District have done the same, but “the exact number isn’t something we track.” He added that mirrors are still available in the locker rooms at Kearns High and that accommodations can be made if a student needs a mirror.

“There’s no policy that would prohibit a student from bringing a hand-held mirror to school as long as it doesn’t become a distraction to the learning environment,” Allen said.

The move has some students feeling frustrated.

“It’s horrendous,” 11th grader Habib Magana said. “It strips away our freedoms and makes us feel self conscious.”

Tenth grader Bukting Monykuer agreed.

“It feels unfair because mirrors help you feel more confident throughout the day,” Monykuer said. “Without the mirrors you don’t know how you look.”

The mirrors at Kearns High weren’t gone for long before the 2025-26 school year came to a close, but school administrators said they had already started seeing improvements.

“It has helped prevent absenteeism and vandalism in the bathrooms,” Assistant Principal Jeremy Smith said.

The Salt Lake Tribune contacted the Salt Lake City School District and the Davis School District to inquire if any of their high schools had removed restroom mirrors. Both said none had.

New phone restrictions start next school year

The upcoming school year will be the first with a sweeping “bell-to bell” cellphone ban at all public schools.

The law was passed during the 2026 legislative session as part of Gov. Spencer Cox’s larger crackdown on youth social media use. Its passage overturned the state’s more permissive policy passed last year.

That former law barred students from using smartphones, smartwatches and other “emerging technology” during class time only, though it allowed school districts to enact stricter policies if they wanted. Kearns High previously allowed cellphones during noninstructional time, according to the school’s website.

The new law carves out several exceptions, such as allowing students to use their devices during an emergency.