Parents, students and experts press Madison School District for stricter cellphone rules and tighter Chromebook controls

Public commenters and a Daniel Hand High School student urged the Madison School District Board of Education to adopt stricter cellphone rules and strengthen security on school‑issued Chromebooks during the meeting, citing safety, distraction and student mental‑health concerns. The board discussed a possible trial day but did not take formal action.

Supporters of stronger rules said phones and unsecured school devices create safety and behavioral problems. “Using phones during an emergency distracts students from following critical safety instructions given by school staff,” resident Jim McDonald said during public comment. “If a phone lights up or dings while a student is in hiding, it could alert an intruder to their location.”

The issue drew multiple speakers and a classroom perspective. Beth Azeveda, a parent of students in Madison, told the board that phones have been used to make threats, to cyberbully and to escalate on‑campus incidents. She urged a districtwide phone‑free policy and said some schools already pair phone rules with locked‑down device controls. “Cell phone use in schools by students can negatively impact school safety in a number of ways,” Azeveda said.

Other parents and community members described technical fixes…