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Board refers proposal on cell phones in schools to governance committee for review
Summary
A referral asking the board to consider stronger restrictions on student cell phone use was moved to the governance committee after board members discussed research and options; the referral passed unanimously for committee review.
The Racine Unified School District board voted Monday to refer Referral 02-2025 — a proposal to address student cell phone use in schools — to the board's governance committee for review and consideration.
Board member Coe introduced the referral and urged action, citing research and national discussions about phones' effects on attention and student well-being. "I've been reading more and more about it," Coe said, noting the book The Anxious Generation and coverage in national outlets. He said he was "done waiting for the state" and wanted the district to examine local policy options.
Board members debated approaches and next steps at the meeting: some described sessions at recent conferences that recommended using phones as instructional tools, others pointed to parental preferences and legal considerations. Board members also noted an existing Wisconsin statute that allows local school boards to adopt rules prohibiting pupils from possessing or using electronic communication devices on school premises (Wis. Stat. §118.258, originally updated by 2005 Wisconsin Act 220) and said the governance committee would consider both policy and implementation implications.
The motion to refer the item to the governance committee was moved on the floor, seconded and approved by an 8-0 roll-call vote. The governance committee will review the district's current policy, consider stakeholder input and may return recommendations to the full board.
