Parent group asks District 15 to scale back student screen time and rethink 1:1 Chromebook practices

A District 15 parent told the board that heavy classroom and at‑home Chromebook use should be reduced and that one‑to‑one device policies need reexamination.

Caitlin Finn, who identified herself as the parent of four District 15 students, said the district’s current device expectations grew out of COVID necessity rather than evidence that heavy screen time is pedagogically best. “Please reconsider the need for 1 to 1 devices and please do not require kids to bring Chromebooks home each night,” Finn said, adding she collected more than 300 signatures on a petition she started about the issue.

Why it matters: Finn and other concerned parents told the board that excessive screen use reduces instructional quality, creates safety and behavior problems (she cited students misusing devices), and that other districts which reduced screen reliance have reported positive outcomes. She requested a district review of when and how screens are used and that the board avoid blanket requirements that force devices home nightly.

Details offered by the speaker - Finn said district device practice was largely adopted out of necessity during the COVID pandemic and not as the result of research showing better learning outcomes. - She reported a petition with over 300 signatures from parents who favor reducing screen time and urged the district to pilot screen‑light or screen‑free approaches used in nearby schools.

Board response and limits: Finn said district administrators acknowledged the need to study device use but told her changes would be slow because of operational constraints. The board did not vote on any policy change during the meeting.

Ending: The parent asked the district to clearly define and limit screen use, keep devices for instruction where research supports them, and avoid automatic nightly take‑home expectations.