Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Device Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
School committee approves revised personal-device policy, harmonizes elementary, middle and high school rules
Summary
The Swampscott School Committee voted May 8 to adopt an amended personal-device policy that tightens language and clarifies tiered consequences; members added the phrase “may include, but are not limited to” to the list of possible discipline steps and set the policy to take effect immediately.
The Swampscott School Committee voted May 8 to approve an amended personal‑device (cell phone/electronics) policy that aligns expectations across elementary, middle and high school levels and clarifies consequences for misuse.
Committee members said the final draft made modest wording changes to ensure consistency. At the high school level, language about personal devices was adjusted to match the elementary and middle school section, and the committee added a clarifying phrase so the tiered‑consequences paragraph would read that “these consequences may include, but are not limited to” a list of possible disciplinary steps.
Committee members praised staff and administrators for work on the policy. School staff participation in national discussions about phone distraction was noted: a district staff member was invited to speak on a panel about phone effects on student focus and mental health.
After a brief amendment to add the clarifying phrase and confirming the policy would follow any future state guidance if adopted, the committee voted to approve the policy as amended.
