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School committee approves first reading of student cell-phone policy AUBJICJ
Summary
The Auburn School Committee approved a first reading of policy AUBJICJ, updating district language to reflect recent state legislation requiring a district cell-phone policy and clarifying bell-to-bell rules, emergency exceptions, and implementation consistency across schools.
The Auburn School Committee on Nov. 5 approved a first reading of new district policy AUBJICJ governing student use of cell phones and other electronic devices. The policy update follows recent state legislation requiring all school districts to adopt a cell-phone policy; the policy's language was refreshed to align with current classroom practices.
"In the last legislative session, [a] bill was passed that all school districts needed to have a cell phone policy," Assistant Superintendent Scott Anier told the committee while summarizing the policy's purpose and the difference between policy and school-level rules. Anier said the high school moved to a bell-to-bell restriction on phone use during instruction and that such rules typically appear in student handbooks.
Committee members discussed emergency-device exceptions and consistency across buildings. City council representative Adam Platt asked whether simplified emergency-only devices (phones with preprogrammed numbers and no screens) would be permitted; Anier said devices are not forbidden in the building and that emergency or medical needs (for example, students monitoring blood sugar) are coordinated with staff. Committee member Pat Gaudio and others emphasized keeping devices in classrooms where appropriate so parents could be notified when needed.
Several members reported positive early feedback from staff and students after the bell-to-bell implementation at the high school, noting increased engagement and more face-to-face interactions. The committee also asked the district to track any correlation between the policy and bullying or harassment reports.
Pam Hart moved to approve the first reading of policy AUBJICJ and Corin McGuigan seconded; the chair announced, "Motion carries." The policy was approved for its first reading; no roll-call vote tally was recorded in the transcript.
Next steps discussed included continued collection of staff and student feedback and a scheduled annual curriculum update (the committee noted LRTC programming is usually presented in the spring).
