Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Phone Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Advocate urges Portland schools to adopt bell‑to‑bell phone‑free policy ahead of curriculum committee review
Summary
A public commenter urged the board to adopt a bell‑to‑bell phone‑free policy for Portland Public Schools and encouraged the district to finish a policy before fall; the Curriculum and Policy Committee will meet April 9 to continue work on cellphone rules.
David Burke, a parent and former Portland schools attendee, urged the board on April 1 to adopt a bell‑to‑bell phone‑free policy for Portland Public Schools.
Burke said the district should complete a comprehensive policy this spring so it can go into effect in September. He cited national statistics on teen phone use and argued that phone use in class harms instruction and classroom management. Burke asked the board to keep a tight timeline and encouraged opponents of the change to provide public comment at committee meetings.
The board noted a Curriculum and Policy Committee meeting is scheduled for April 9 where cellphone policy work is on the agenda. No board decision was made at the April 1 meeting.
Why it matters: A bell‑to‑bell phone‑free policy would change classroom routines and enforcement, affect student and teacher practice, and require administrative planning and communications.
