[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6330234,"mediaKeyId","2314972-192592cf022e301444222c4f6589c249","parentId",2314972,"title","Votes at a glance: Middletown School Committee actions on Feb. 13, 2025","audioSeconds",4434,"startMs",1491000,"endMs",5925000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2314972-192592cf022e301444222c4f6589c249&start=1491&end=5925","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2314972-192592cf022e301444222c4f6589c249/thumbnail_1491000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6330234/Middletown/School-Districts/Rhode-Island/Votes-at-a-glance-Middletown-School-Committee-actions-on-Feb-13-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6330234-a7b3b56b9823781c2d364afce7b38104/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195797&Signature=o8Y0qQ35eskUrvod~G81SOllLSt8MTmbtJiaxgilo3996sbFCobuTuF9L1O1cGlh11EV4j4Tm8K8uO2aM-Adsvm9RUljO7JdCahb8YFy3GcUmWoi1w9~pYwATyV9J4UTXg2aNjwFmqVYB5PuYohGA1uxcVODRTza-MN24p~o23kSFbUFIXitMJMD3WJ4RnKtrDWzIk4Xci1aik1-2esMu0s1P2Rk~Ex4463hYZdGrmhCRp5dPPWe35oa7taOioXk9MTao3ZRkMzb0vB~XLTLzVLz88JW9sUD~ndApdVv1kfs6ilglGlxMNHMU0YDkchos~G9TyU4MNXp~jBbSMaZ8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Middletown Public Schools Rhode Island","date","2025-02-13T00:00:00Z","article","The Middletown School Committee on Feb. 13 recorded the following formal actions during its regular meeting. Where the transcript did not list voter roll-call tallies or named movers/seconders, those fields are marked \"not specified.\" All motions listed below were approved by the committee as noted.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda: Approved. Motion to approve the consent agenda was made and seconded; voice vote recorded as \"Aye,\" no detailed tally specified. (See transcript excerpt: \"I make a motion that we approve the consent agenda.\" / \"The motion passes.\")

- First reading — Cell phone policy: Approved (first reading). The committee voted to consider and approve the policy for first reading and directed the superintendent to return with implementation protocols and stakeholder outreach prior to a second reading. Exact mover/second and vote tallies not specified in the transcript.

- Second and final reading — Policy 1041 (school committee policy process): Approved. Motion and second were recorded; final voice vote recorded as \"Aye,\" no roll-call tally provided.

- Resolution: RIDE initiative to fund transportation for homeless youth: Approved. The committee voted to put forth a resolution supporting the initiative to seek state funding for required transportation of homeless students. Motion made and seconded; final vote recorded as \"Aye,\" no roll-call tally specified.

- Approval of the 2025–26 school calendar: Approved. The calendar was approved after clarification about island schools' start dates; vote recorded as \"Aye,\" no tally specified.

- Motion to table: Subcommittee review/assignments: Approved (tabled until next regularly scheduled school committee meeting). Motion to table was moved and seconded and passed by voice vote.

- Adjournment: Approved. Motion to adjourn at 6:50 p.m. was seconded and passed.

Several of these items originated as consent items or came from the policy subcommittee; where an item was in the consent agenda, it was adopted as part of that bundle (for example, the master service agreement with Hazel Health was included in the consent agenda and thereby approved).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","School Committee meeting 2/13/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The committee approved the consent agenda, approved the first reading of a districtwide cell phone policy, adopted policy process 1041 at second reading, voted to send a resolution on the RIDE initiative for homeless student transportation, approved the 2025–26 school calendar, tabled subcommittee review, and adjourned.","taxTitle","Middletown, School Districts, Rhode Island","taxId",73325,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6330240,"Middletown School Committee approves first reading of districtwide cell phone policy",2654,1510000,4164000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2314972-192592cf022e301444222c4f6589c249&start=1510&end=4164","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2314972-192592cf022e301444222c4f6589c249/thumbnail_1510000.jpg","/articles/6330240/Middletown/School-Districts/Rhode-Island/Middletown-School-Committee-approves-first-reading-of-districtwide-cell-phone-policy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6330240-34635d36f78bc0d6048d63c142960b66/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195797&Signature=IzhDHp91NnhAxfK0Nth-J2h7DvH5btCiG8XLk1SEEJBuKBQm1iFo47Eb4PICuLau~LV9CQ7aX-v4zB1xMr6ELD0XKA8pwhLjwgf4GQvwUDuwTRtI8IavCCQdEOC9Te58WFNcd1c87q9LiFqQuQ6X2gTwydR9nCUhYi9YEopvapAC8jm7pFBsldiG7y89-AiD8UllLaVjni7M2RYwBteRTveb6x1U~vUxolhVImA31UEYTOv1Xp6Dgctyhy~XlqtGPEoa7-FByQdS4m0nLb7Z3nOXQs~hjeYkk9kkQPNl77wQ5RPdo7eyLyYJqYIJrt8bPEr1qRg4fryrBO7PfQWEmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Middletown School Committee on Feb. 13 approved the first reading of a districtwide cell phone policy aimed at restricting student use of cell phones and other personal electronic devices during instructional time.

The motion for a first reading passed by voice vote; committee members said the vote advances a uniform approach across schools while allowing time for the superintendent and building principals to develop protocols for enforcement and exceptions. Superintendent Billy Niemeyer said, “the policy is a good idea for the district,” and said he looks forward to community and staff input ahead of a second reading.

The measure follows three pieces of written correspondence the committee received in advance: a message from Kristen McLean, an English teacher at Middletown High School, that said, “I support the proposed cell phone policy. As a classroom teacher, it is a core keep kids off their cell phones during class,” and two statements from students and parents sent on behalf of Middletown High School urging stronger limits on in-class device use.

Committee members debated process and content. Member Teresa Spangler said she would have preferred broader stakeholder involvement before the first reading. Member Tammy Holden and others pressed for clearer definitions of emergency exceptions and asked how parents would contact students in true emergencies. Member Bill Nash spoke in favor of the ban’s aims, saying he is “fully convinced that this needs to happen” and that student phone use can be “detrimental to learning.”

Several members asked the superintendent to return with implementation details before scheduling a second reading. One proposal the committee discussed was to allow the superintendent flexibility to develop building-level protocols and to create an outreach plan to inform parents and students before enforcement begins. Some members said they would not support a second reading next month unless the administration had time to solicit stakeholder feedback and propose enforcement protocols; others said the district’s existing safety and office-based communication procedures addressed emergency concerns.

The committee’s first-reading approval does not finalize the policy. The superintendent was asked to work with principals, staff and families to draft protocols, clarify emergency definitions, and propose an implementation timeline for the committee’s consideration at a future meeting.

Votes and formal actions on the policy were taken during the regular meeting; details of the motion and its outcome are recorded in the meeting actions.","The Middletown School Committee voted to approve the first reading of a districtwide cell phone policy after extended debate over stakeholder input, emergency communication procedures and implementation timelines. The policy will return for a second reading after the superintendent develops implementation protocols and gathers stakeholder input.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Middletown School Committee actions on Feb. 13, 2025

Middletown School Committee approves first reading of districtwide cell phone policy