Kirkwood wellness committee studies smartphone limits for students amid anxiety concerns

The district wellness committee presented findings and next steps Wednesday as it studies student smartphone use and its links to anxiety and self-harm trends.

The committee, which includes students, parents, teachers, social-emotional staff and medical professionals, said it will continue collecting local and national data, run trials of nonpunitive practices and return to the Board with potential recommendations for policies or procedures.

Why it matters: Committee members told the Board that anxiety and depression among adolescents rose sharply beginning about 2010 — the same period that smartphone and social media adoption accelerated — and that Kirkwood students repeatedly flagged smartphone use as a top wellness concern. The committee is seeking measures that reduce harm while avoiding classroom power struggles or punitive approaches that parents and staff said could be counterproductive.

Doctor Bailey, the wellness committee presenter, told the Board the committee has met multiple times and includes “at least six students who have been consistent participants.” He said last year the group focused on student anxiety and this year intentionally focused on smartphone and smartwatch usage districtwide.

Current practices and pilots:…