District shifts elementary 1‑to‑1 device plan to keep devices at school, cites screen‑time concerns

Hancock County School District staff informed the board that the district will change its elementary one‑to‑one device policy so that tier‑1 student devices remain at school rather than go home daily. The change is intended to limit young students’ screen time, extend the life of older devices by reducing wear at home and to manage state reimbursement limits on device replacement. A staff presenter said students will continue to have individual devices available for in‑class use; devices will be sent home when the district needs them for e‑learning during inclement weather. The presenter explained the state reimbursement rate for device replacements limits allowable reimbursement to about $150 per device, which was a factor in the decision to retain devices at school and cascade older district devices from secondary schools to elementary classrooms. Board members asked about internet filtering and parental controls when devices are taken off campus. A technology staff member, Greg (first name only), said the district uses Linewize filtering; it applies filters regardless of network and blocks most inappropriate content. Greg said the filtering covers about 95% of inappropriate access, while acknowledging that highly motivated users can sometimes find unblocked sites. He also said the district can and has scheduled devices to lose internet access at specific evening hours to reduce late‑night use by young students. District staff said the change reflects input from tier‑1 principals, research on screen time for young learners and practical considerations for device maintenance. The board did not take a formal vote on the policy change at Tuesday’s meeting; staff presented the plan and said they would implement the change for the next school year.