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Nantucket school committee adopts all-day ban on student cell phones
Summary
The Nantucket Public Schools School Committee voted to adopt Policy IJNDD, prohibiting student use of cell phones and personal electronic devices during the school day; the district said implementation details, including Yonder pouch distribution and IEP accommodations, will be worked out in the coming months.
The Nantucket Public Schools School Committee voted to adopt Policy IJNDD, a districtwide restriction on cell phone and personal electronic device use during the school day, after about an hour of public comment and a district presentation. Committee members called for implementation planning but the motion to adopt the policy carried at the meeting.
Supporters told the committee the change is intended to reduce classroom distraction, improve social interaction and lower safety risks during emergencies. "Nantucket Public Schools draft policy is the model of best practices across the country, and I'm here to fully endorse and urge your positive vote tonight," said Christine Venise, CEO of Unite for Safe Social Media, citing national research on distraction and mental health.
Why it matters: district officials and speakers said the policy aims to remove persistent classroom interruptions and encourage face-to-face interactions. Several speakers referenced results from other Massachusetts districts, including Martha's Vineyard, which implemented a similar approach this year.
Teachers and school staff described classroom management gains they expect from a consistent, districtwide rule. "Every teacher in our building has some form of a cell phone caddy. It has been an expectation for us to take phones at the beginning of every class," said Paige Martineau, an English teacher and head of the teachers' union, adding that the current practice forces teachers into enforcement roles that hamper instruction.
School administrators and tech staff addressed practical concerns about rollout and equity. "We want to try out the violations and the response to those violations with what we have put in there because we've done a lot of work around restorative justice," said Dr. Hallett, a district official. The district said it plans to provide Yonder locking pouches for students at the middle and high schools and to work through details—such as damaged or lost pouches, and whether families will be charged—during implementation. Officials estimated an initial one-year cost for middle and high school pouches at about $30,000.
Parents and other community members described personal and observed benefits of limiting in-school phone access. Martin Angelof, the district chief financial officer speaking as a parent, said removing limits on his children's devices while on vacation had a marked negative effect on attention and academic performance. "We reintroduced the limits, and he was able to finish the year in a much better way," Angelof said.
Administrators also discussed exceptions and logistics. Becky Janda, principal at the intermediate school, said the district currently allows students to bring phones but requires them to remain in backpacks; the policy would move toward a more restrictive approach at secondary grades while maintaining instructional continuity for younger, self-contained classrooms. The district said roughly 20% of students are served under individualized education programs (IEPs), but that status does not automatically grant an exception. Medical accommodations, for example for diabetes monitoring, were cited as valid reasons for supervised device access; Yonder offers a Velcro pouch option for such cases.
Safety and emergency communications were raised repeatedly. Multiple speakers cited law enforcement guidance that widespread student phone use during an emergency can spread misinformation and overwhelm response channels. "For the best outcome, it's vital for students not to be on their cell phones during lockdown," a speaker referenced the executive director of the National Association of School Resource Officers as saying during public comment.
Enforcement and disciplinary questions were also raised during comments. Some parents asked for clearer, consistently applied consequences across elementary, middle and high school grades; other speakers urged the district to retain restorative and progressive responses before escalating to detentions or suspensions. The district said current enforcement will begin with the progressive measures in the draft policy but can be revisited by the committee.
The committee adopted Policy IJNDD at the meeting. The motion to adopt was moved, seconded and approved; committee members voiced "Aye" and the motion carried. District leaders said they will continue to consult peer districts, finalize Yonder pouch logistics, refine disciplinary language, and develop training for staff and families before full implementation.
The committee then moved to adjourn.
