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Barnstable School Committee tables proposed districtwide cell‑phone policy after heated debate
Summary
The Barnstable School Committee on Aug. 20 tabled a proposed districtwide policy limiting student cell‑phone access during the school day after extended debate about enforceability, emergency communications and equity.
Barnstable, Aug. 20, 2025 — The Barnstable School Committee on Wednesday moved to table a proposed districtwide policy restricting student use of cell phones during the school day after more than an hour of discussion about safety, enforcement and family communication.
The committee’s motion to table the measure passed 3–1. The proposal would have required that “cell phones and other personal electronic devices are not accessible to students during the school day,” while allowing building principals to publish specific guidelines in local handbooks.
The debate split members who said teachers and administrators had asked for a clear district rule to back…
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