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Teachers, students and parents urge Elizabeth district to keep or strengthen classroom cell‑phone ban
Summary
During public comment, multiple teachers, a student and parents urged the board to retain and strengthen a districtwide ban on cell phones and wearable devices in classrooms, citing teacher survey results and research linking phone use to anxiety and distraction.
Several teachers, students and parents urged the Elizabeth School District board Tuesday to keep or expand a ban on cell phones and other wearable devices in classrooms, saying the policy improves attention and academic outcomes.
Public commenters included high‑school and middle‑school teachers and students who described classroom disruptions tied to phones and wearable devices. “I was so excited to hear that Elizabeth was going to be banning cell phones in the high school,” said Jason Geck, an Elizabeth resident and parent, adding he hoped the board would “keep that ban in place.”
A student, Angelie Jimenez, described her own experience and cited research: “The statistics… have revealed that more than 50 percent increase in depression and anxiety among US Teenagers,” she said, and urged the district to “take that into account and hopefully be on [the ban] next year.”
Teachers reported strong internal support for a class‑wide ban. Adam Payton, a teacher with 14 years’ experience, summarized a recent teacher survey his group conducted: “91 percent of teachers report cell phones being distraction in their classroom. 72 percent of teachers reported cell phones and wearable technology negatively affecting their students' academic performance… 80% of our respondents supported banning cell phones next year.” He said individual teachers who ban phones face parental or student pushback and urged a districtwide policy to provide consistency for classrooms.
Other teachers who commented said phone management has improved student behavior where bans have been implemented and suggested limited exceptions for elementary students for safety or after‑school communications. Teacher Lindsey Cutter said the school’s “cell phone caddy” at the middle school reduced classroom theft and disruptions and recommended teacher discretion for limited safety uses, while keeping class periods phone‑free.
Board members did not vote on a policy change during the meeting. District staff and several board members noted related policies and procedures are under review in the coming months and that any formal policy change would return for board consideration. Supporters and teachers asked the board to weigh the survey results and student mental‑health concerns when the board considers formal revisions.
No formal action on district phone policy was recorded at the meeting; public comment and staff statements framed the matter as ongoing discussion.
