Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Technology Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mount Lebanon board adopts policy updates; technology rules remain under review as parents press for phone‑free schools
Summary
The Mount Lebanon Board of School Directors approved a set of policy adoptions and retirements on June 16 while signaling that technology‑use rules will continue to be discussed. Multiple public commenters urged stricter enforcement of device rules, a phone‑free high school day and limits on earbuds, photo/video, and unsupervised Chromebook use.
The Mount Lebanon Board of School Directors voted June 16 to approve a package of policy adoptions and retirements, while trustees said a separate set of technology rules will return for additional discussion.
Public comment at the meeting focused on device use and enforcement. Several residents urged the district to adopt stronger, clearer limits on phones and Chromebooks and to prohibit earbuds and student picture‑taking during instructional time.
The board approved the policy adoptions and retirements after a motion to adopt the policy agenda was moved by Mr. Hoffman and seconded; a roll‑call vote recorded seven ayes and no dissent. Mr. Hoffman told the board that technology remained an ongoing topic and would receive further attention at upcoming meetings.
During public comment, Christine Sorensen Griffin, a Mount Lebanon resident, praised components of the draft guidelines that “prohibit cell phone use in the academic areas,” and urged the district to take a broader step. “I hope Mount Lebanon will take the lead and go phone free for the sake of our kids who will experience the academic and social and emotional rewards if we free them from their phones for the important hours that they're here at school,” Griffin said.
Other speakers identified specific enforcement gaps they would like addressed. Jane Cassella asked the district to tighten playground rules and remove devices as post‑work rewards, saying, “It needs to be changed to no devices during any recess.” Several commenters recommended that classroom monitoring software (for example, GoGuardian Teacher) be considered to ensure Chromebooks are used for assigned instructional tasks and not gaming or social media.
A 14‑year‑old student, Maya Stranden, described personal experience at both public and private schools and argued that reduced device use improved learning and social interaction. “It was the best field trip,” she said, describing a school trip where phones were collected.
Board members acknowledged the comments and said the technology policies remain under review. Mr. Hoffman said there had been “a lot of discussion” on technology and that further opportunities for conversation were planned. The board approved the other policy adoptions and retirements on the meeting agenda.
The board and administration did not take immediate additional formal action on a district‑wide phone‑free policy at the June 16 meeting; public‑comment questions that require follow‑up will be referred to the administration for response prior to future deliberations.
