Superintendent Patel highlights school choice and device policy at Clayton meeting

The School District of Clayton held a Board of Education meeting on April 30, 2025, where several key issues were discussed, particularly focusing on school choice and personal device policies.

The meeting began with Superintendent Patel addressing the nationwide public policy issue of school choice. She emphasized that it is not a question of if, but when, the district must adapt to maintain competitiveness with other schools, both public and private. This discussion highlighted the importance of keeping the district's infrastructure updated to attract families who have options between public and private education.

Following this, Betsy Malan Smith, a parent of three students in the district, raised concerns regarding the high school’s personal device policy. She expressed gratitude for the board's service but urged a reconsideration of the current approach to personal electronics at the high school level. Malan Smith noted that while the middle school policy effectively prohibits phone use during school hours, the high school environment presents unique challenges that require a tailored solution.

Malan Smith argued that maintaining the status quo on the personal electronics policy could hinder students' academic and social experiences. She cited data indicating that a significant percentage of students find distractions from peers using phones in class to be problematic. Furthermore, she pointed out that most students are rarely required to use their phones for academic purposes, questioning their necessity in the classroom.

She also raised concerns about school safety, suggesting that while phones may provide a sense of security, it is essential to evaluate whether they genuinely enhance safety for students and teachers. Malan Smith concluded by calling for consistent enforcement of existing policies and highlighted the negative impacts of technology on students, referencing broader societal concerns about technology use.

The meeting underscored the district's ongoing efforts to adapt to changing educational landscapes and the importance of community input in shaping policies that affect student learning and well-being. The Board of Education is expected to consider these discussions as they move forward with policy evaluations and potential revisions.