Bedford school leaders, board members and a student representative debated the district's planned cellphone policy at the Aug. 11 meeting after the superintendent presented language that aligns with a recent state law requiring districts to prohibit student personal communication devices from the start of the instructional day until dismissal.

Superintendent Mike Fournier told the board the law calls for a district policy that "shall prohibit all personal communication devices used by students from when the first bell rings to start instructional time until the dismissal bell rings to end the academic school day." The draft presented Aug. 11 includes exceptions for students with documented medical needs or individualized-education-program (IEP) accommodations, and for language-proficiency needs when translation services are necessary.

Principals and board members raised practical concerns: staff said they do not want teachers to become "cell-phone police," and several board members and the student representative warned of significant resistance from older students accustomed to using devices during noninstructional periods such as lunch or advisory. Student school board member Andy Nugent said implementation would be controversial among peers but said he expected the change to generate discussion.

Fournier and principals also noted testing and assessment situations already ban smartwatches and phones. The policy draft adds guidance for parents about how to communicate with students during the school day and a progression of consequences (warnings, notification, confiscation and parent pick-up) intended to give students chances to comply.

The board scheduled a second reading and vote for Aug. 20. Fournier said he would work with staff to provide more detail about implementation and to gather community feedback; he also suggested families opposed to the law should contact state legislators and the governor's office if they seek changes at the state level.

At the Aug. 11 meeting the board did not vote to finalize the cellphone policy; members said they expect further discussion and outreach before a formal vote.