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Salem School Board adopts bell-to-bell cell phone ban and new student-device policy
Summary
After a public hearing and presentations from school leaders, the Salem School Board voted 5-0 to adopt policy JICJ implementing New Hampshire's "bell-to-bell" ban on personal communication devices, with exemptions for medically necessary devices and devices in IEP/504 plans.
The Salem School Board on Aug. 19, 2025 voted 5-0 to adopt policy JICJ, establishing a districtwide "bell-to-bell" ban on personal communication devices for students.
The policy implements recent state law mandating that students may not use personal communication devices from the first bell that starts instructional time until the dismissal bell. Superintendent Mara Palmer said the locally drafted policy "reflects the language of the RSA" and was developed with input from the New Hampshire School Boards Association and district counsel.
Board members heard a presentation from Jeff Dennis, principal of Salem High School, who described the high school's implementation plan: "At the high school, bell to bell runs from 07:30, the first bell rings until the final…
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