Multiple parents, students and community members urged the Tacoma School District Board of Directors to adopt a districtwide bell‑to‑bell cell‑phone ban, citing student anxiety, attention problems and social harms.

Speakers at the public‑comment period described a grassroots push at Hunt Middle School and other campuses. Jarrett Austin, a parent who participated in a book club there, summarized arguments drawn from Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation and said, "The harm greatly outweighs the benefit." Jennifer Arnold summarized a Hunt parent survey and told the board that about "74%" of responding families were "strongly supportive" of a bell‑to‑bell policy and that "78% of families rarely or never contact their student at school." Glenn Johnson and other parents urged a districtwide approach and noted that Olympia legislators are also considering a policy.

Why it matters: Commenters emphasized academic focus, social skill development and young people’s mental‑health risks from constant phone access. Several speakers described school‑level successes and asked the board to provide district guidance rather than leaving the issue solely to individual principals.

In response, General Counsel Ben Roe cautioned the board on liability for confiscated devices, explaining the question depends on circumstances: if a staff member negligently secures a device and it is lost or taken, the district could be liable; absent negligence the district may not be liable. Superintendent Dr. Garcia said that secondary schools have been developing phone‑management plans and that "all but three" secondary schools had a plan this past year; the remaining schools are expected to have plans for the 2025–26 school year.

The board did not take a formal vote; the item remained in the public‑comment and discussion stage with directors indicating the topic is under consideration and that principals and school teams are already working on campus plans.

Ending: Parents and community members urged quick district action; the board and administration signaled further development of local plans and an openness to district‑level policy discussion in the coming months.