Winchester committee backs phased ‘bell-to-bell’ phone plan for high school, orders phone holders for fall

Winchester — The Winchester School Committee on Thursday agreed to accept Superintendent Doctor Hackett’s phased recommendation for handling student cell phones at Winchester High School (WHS), approving steps that administrators say will let the district learn as it moves toward a “bell-to-bell” model anticipated under a pending state bill.

The committee’s action sends a direction to administration to provide classroom phone holders (referred to in meetings as “shoe trees”), finalize communications to families and staff, and collect implementation data during 2025–26 so the district can return with a progress report and budget options for a fuller roll‑out intended for the 2026–27 school year.

The decision matters because a state-level bill addressing student device access has moved through the Senate and is pending in the House; the district must decide how to comply while preserving instruction, accommodations and some high‑school practices such as off‑campus lunch. Doctor Hackett told the committee, “All phones will be held in a locked storage area in a learning space that is also portable during emergency situations,” and said the district will initially use inexpensive classroom holders rather than built lockers or more expensive lockboxes.

Administrators stressed the plan is phased and data‑driven. “We are seeing this as kind of a first phase,” Doctor Hackett said, adding that the district will “live this” with students and staff, collect data about device use and accommodations, and bring midyear updates to the committee. At the meeting, WHS representatives described operational questions the plan must resolve, including passes between classes, off‑campus lunch and how student accommodations under 504/IEP plans will be handled.

School leaders emphasized two operational decisions for 2025–26: (1) require students to place phones in classroom phone holders during class times, and (2) allow teachers to use phones for instruction under a controlled approval process. “Teachers do have the ability to have students use their cell phones in classrooms” when attached to instruction, Doctor Hackett said; the administration will develop and circulate a consistent approval process so teachers are not deciding ad hoc.

Committee members and staff repeatedly raised equity and budget issues. Administrators noted that moving to a true bell‑to‑bell program will likely require the district to provide devices or loaners for instruction in classrooms where phones had been used as instructional devices; that carries a potential budget and maintenance cost. Doctor Hackett said the district will return with options and budget estimates if those are needed.

The committee also discussed non‑phone personal devices. The administration’s recommendation for fall implementation focuses on phones as the primary visible device; Doctor Hackett said, “We’re gonna start with cell phones,” and that the district will monitor other accessories such as earbuds and watches and revisit inclusion of those items later if staff report problems.

The motion to accept the administration’s recommendation was moved and seconded and carried (the meeting record shows the motion advanced and a majority supported it). The administration said it will order phone holders in time for the September start, prepare handbooks and parent communications, and schedule a midyear progress report to the committee with collected observations and recommended next steps.

What’s next: The district will deploy classroom phone holders at WHS for the opening of the school year, post clear guidance for families and staff, collect classroom‑level data and report back to the committee in the months ahead. Administrators said they will pay particular attention to the needs of students who rely on devices for documented accommodations and will ensure those students continue to receive appropriate supports.