Penncrest board hears students and teachers on phone, YouTube and book-bag rules; administration to bring book‑bag recommendation to October vote
October 15, 2025 | Penncrest SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania
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Ella Murrant, the Cambridge Springs student representative, and Debbie Miller, president of the Penncrest Teachers and Professionals Association (PAEA), urged the Penncrest School District board on Oct. 14 to consider the educational and practical effects of recent device and bag restrictions.
Murrant told the board the school’s recent cell‑phone and YouTube restrictions have reduced visible phone use and helped classroom communication, but she said the YouTube ban is “very disappointing” because teachers and students use educational and exercise videos in class. “So please reconsider and put YouTube back on the iPads,” she said. Murrant also described problems for the high‑school yearbook program, which had relied on student phone photos, and argued that blanket site bans had unintended learning costs.
Debbie Miller, PAEA president, framed the new phone rules as a “valuable teaching moment” that can teach students responsibility and reduce classroom distractions, while urging the board to weigh safety and instruction when considering further handbook changes. “These new cell phone guidelines … serve a purpose to foster a more focused learning environment,” Miller said.
On backpacks and other carrying bags, administrators presented a formal recommendation that “all book bags, backpacks, duffle bags, tote bags, any other similar carrying bags must be stored in student lockers upon arrival to school” and must not be carried throughout the day. The administration said students would be allowed to access lockers between classes as needed, and that the recommendation would be brought to the board for a vote at the October meeting.
Board members discussed several operational concerns. Some said existing metal detectors could be used more often, but administrators and board members warned random or universal daily screening requires substantial staffing; one board member described a district that used 12 staff across two doors to screen every student each morning, which would likely delay classes. Others raised the cost burden of a clear‑bag requirement: board members and student speakers noted that a “good backpack is at least $50,” and families who already purchased regular backpacks might be forced to buy new clear bags.
The board and administrators described interim measures: random metal‑detector checks at selected doors, increasing use of available larger lockers (for teams and athletic bags), and plans to educate students and coaches about locker access and procedures. Administrators said they would identify whether every student needs a personal lock or whether staff could manage shared solutions and that they could supply a limited number of locks to families in need.
No final board vote on the book‑bag recommendation was taken during the committee session. Administrators said they will publish the recommendation and supporting details for board consideration at the scheduled October meeting and will continue to evaluate implementation details — including locker sizes, staffing needs for screening, and whether clear bags should be considered in the future.
Ending: The discussion brought students, the teachers’ association and school administrators into alignment on safety goals while exposing practical tradeoffs: locker capacity, staffing to operate metal detectors, and the unequal cost of mandated clear bags. The district will present a formal policy and implementation plan at the October board meeting for a final decision.
Murrant told the board the school’s recent cell‑phone and YouTube restrictions have reduced visible phone use and helped classroom communication, but she said the YouTube ban is “very disappointing” because teachers and students use educational and exercise videos in class. “So please reconsider and put YouTube back on the iPads,” she said. Murrant also described problems for the high‑school yearbook program, which had relied on student phone photos, and argued that blanket site bans had unintended learning costs.
Debbie Miller, PAEA president, framed the new phone rules as a “valuable teaching moment” that can teach students responsibility and reduce classroom distractions, while urging the board to weigh safety and instruction when considering further handbook changes. “These new cell phone guidelines … serve a purpose to foster a more focused learning environment,” Miller said.
On backpacks and other carrying bags, administrators presented a formal recommendation that “all book bags, backpacks, duffle bags, tote bags, any other similar carrying bags must be stored in student lockers upon arrival to school” and must not be carried throughout the day. The administration said students would be allowed to access lockers between classes as needed, and that the recommendation would be brought to the board for a vote at the October meeting.
Board members discussed several operational concerns. Some said existing metal detectors could be used more often, but administrators and board members warned random or universal daily screening requires substantial staffing; one board member described a district that used 12 staff across two doors to screen every student each morning, which would likely delay classes. Others raised the cost burden of a clear‑bag requirement: board members and student speakers noted that a “good backpack is at least $50,” and families who already purchased regular backpacks might be forced to buy new clear bags.
The board and administrators described interim measures: random metal‑detector checks at selected doors, increasing use of available larger lockers (for teams and athletic bags), and plans to educate students and coaches about locker access and procedures. Administrators said they would identify whether every student needs a personal lock or whether staff could manage shared solutions and that they could supply a limited number of locks to families in need.
No final board vote on the book‑bag recommendation was taken during the committee session. Administrators said they will publish the recommendation and supporting details for board consideration at the scheduled October meeting and will continue to evaluate implementation details — including locker sizes, staffing needs for screening, and whether clear bags should be considered in the future.
Ending: The discussion brought students, the teachers’ association and school administrators into alignment on safety goals while exposing practical tradeoffs: locker capacity, staffing to operate metal detectors, and the unequal cost of mandated clear bags. The district will present a formal policy and implementation plan at the October board meeting for a final decision.
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