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Patrons urge board to act on student anxiety, cell phone use; state task force recommended ban
Summary
Two patrons and board members raised concerns about student anxiety tied to cell phones and social media during the public-comment period. Staff and board members said a district policy is in development; a state task force recommended banning cell phones but left decisions to districts.
James Hanford, a Derby resident, told the Board of Education on May 12 that student anxiety — which he linked in part to widespread cellphone use and online algorithms — is a pressing concern and urged the board to consider stronger limits. "Cell phones themselves are so, everywhere now, so it's complicated," Hanford said during the public-comment period, citing research and historical examples of social panics.
Board members and patrons continued the discussion after Hanford. One patron said the state task force studying the issue recommended banning cell-phone use in schools but left implementation decisions to each district. A board member said the district is "working towards a policy" and hopes it will be adopted soon; another said they had discussed the subject at a recent workshop.
Why it matters: Board policy on cell phones affects classroom management, student attention and the district's approach to student well-being. Staff and board members signaled they are pursuing a district-level policy but did not present or adopt a final policy at the meeting.
What was said and what will happen next: Hanford suggested policy needs buy‑in from administration, teachers, parents and students; a separate patron noted the state task force recognized cell phones as a distraction and recommended a ban while leaving districts to set specifics. Board members said they will continue working on a policy; no formal direction to staff or vote was recorded on May 12.
Context and caveats: Speakers framed phone use as one factor among many related to anxiety; Hanford and patrons referenced external research and the work of a state task force but did not cite specific statutes or district rules at the meeting. The board has not made a final decision and did not schedule a vote on a specific cell-phone ordinance at this session.
Ending: The board did not act on a specific policy on May 12; staff and board members said work on a policy would continue and that public input will likely be part of future discussions.
