Wakefield panel approves 2025-26 student handbooks, including stricter high school cell‑phone limits

The Wakefield School Committee voted unanimously Aug. 26 to approve the 2025‑26 student and parent handbooks, which include a revised cell‑phone policy for Wakefield High School. Committee members said the document incorporates accommodations for students with documented medical or social‑emotional needs and clarified procedures for school staff.

The vote came after public comment supporting stronger phone limits. Katrina Fitzgerald, deputy director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center and parent of two Wakefield Public Schools students, told the committee she strongly supports the handbook change limiting student access to cell phones at the high school: "I do urge you to support the change to the high school handbook," Fitzgerald said, adding that phones can be addictive and distracting for students.

Committee members and staff said they met with community advocates ahead of the vote. Superintendent Doug (surname not specified in transcript) acknowledged feedback from community partners including CPAC representatives Anne and Bill Herzog and said the district will provide accommodations where appropriate. The superintendent said students who require phone access for medical reasons or as documented in an IEP or 504 plan will continue to have access, and staff will make individualized accommodations where counseling teams recommend them.

Several committee members asked administration to be proactive about family communications and student access to phones during emergencies. One member cited a prior middle‑school incident in which communication to families could have been clearer; the committee discussed adding guidance to ensure parents can reliably reach students through school channels when needed.

The committee’s policy subcommittee and district staff said the handbook language also cross‑references existing procedures for accommodations and that the handbook will be posted to the district website after approval. The committee chair moved and the board seconded the motion to approve the handbooks; the committee recorded the vote as unanimous.

The superintendent also told the committee that state legislation referred to in the meeting as "the study act" remains under consideration at the State House; current handbook changes put the district in alignment with the policy language as discussed at the time of the meeting. The district said it would adjust policies as required if state law changes.

The handbooks and the committee’s updated language will take effect for the 2025‑26 school year, and staff said they will monitor implementation and communication in the opening weeks of school.