Parent urges Salem School District to curb elementary Chromebook screen time

A Salem parent told the school board Tuesday that the district should minimize elementary students’ screen time and consider delaying Chromebook assignments until later in elementary school or middle school.

Ron Massey, who said he has a child entering Lancaster Elementary and two younger children in the district pipeline, thanked the board for its recent restrictions on student cell phone use and said Chromebooks are currently assigned starting in kindergarten in some schools. “I’m here tonight to see if we can minimize that usage and perhaps delay assigning Chromebooks until later in elementary school or middle school,” Massey said.

Massey told the board he had discussed the issue with Assistant Superintendent Angela Markley by phone earlier in the day and that he and other parents had received mixed answers about how extensively Chromebooks are used by kindergarten and elementary classrooms. “We have heard that some kids use it up to half the time,” he said, and added that some students “have to log at home every night.”

Massey cited national commentary and studies he said show downsides to too much screen time, including attention and social-skill concerns, and said that while technology has benefits, he believes “the negative aspects of too much screen time outweigh the positives.” He asked the board to reconsider district practice and to prioritize face-to-face instruction, pencil-and-paper tasks, and a later start for assigned Chromebooks.

Superintendent Mara Palmer and Assistant Superintendent Angela Markley were present for the public session and the board left the public comment period open for additional speakers until 7:35 p.m.; the board did not take immediate policy action on Mr. Massey’s request during the meeting.