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Parents ask MSAD 51 to consider bell-to-bell cell-phone ban after petition
Summary
A group of parents presented a petition signed by about 45 people asking the MSAD 51 board to consider making district schools "cell phone free from bell to bell."
A North Yarmouth resident on Thursday presented a petition asking the MSAD 51 Board of Directors to consider adopting a bell-to-bell cell-phone ban across district schools.
Carrie Cook said the petition, signed by about 45 parents and community members, asked the board to "consider making all schools in the Greeley system cell phone free from bell to bell." Cook cited a shift in national conversations about adolescent mental health and referenced Bath School District in Maine, which she said implemented a bell-to-bell restriction this year and reported benefits to administrators.
"Struggles to teach focus when an addicting technology is at hand constantly, worries about photography or filming while in educational spaces, and teaching in person social interactions when online social media is so compelling are but a few of the challenges parents, teachers, and students face," Cook said. She asked the board to open a public conversation about the topic.
Board chair reminded speakers that public comment is not a time for debate and that the board will not comment on remarks during the comment period. The petition request was presented for consideration; no action was taken at the meeting. The board indicated it would welcome public discussion through its policy and committee processes.
