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Parent asks Pullman board to restrict Chromebook use at lunch and free-choice time
Summary
A parent told the board she believes excess Chromebook screen time during the school day isolates students and contributes to behavior problems, urging the board to ban Chromebook use at lunch and remove the option during teachers' free-choice periods.
At the public-comment portion of the meeting, Lisa Schroeder, a parent of a sixth grader, asked the Pullman School District board to restrict Chromebook use during lunch and during teacher-designated free-choice time.
Schroeder said her child has access to a Chromebook throughout the day and that many students use devices during lunch "to play video games, watch videos, or surf the Internet," which she said reduces physical and social activity and "isolating" behavior. She estimated daily extra device time of 50–70 minutes when lunchtime and multiple short free-choice periods are counted.
"My sixth grader has access to his Chromebook the entire day... During lunchtime, he plays video games, watches videos, or surfs the Internet," Schroeder said. "I feel this is detrimental because not only is it isolating, it limits time for physical and social activity."
Schroeder asked the board to remove computer-use as an option during free-choice time and suggested students store Chromebooks in lockers during lunch. Board leadership acknowledged the concern and said that "appropriate use of educational devices" is already on the board's upcoming agenda for further discussion.
The board invited Schroeder to submit her remarks in writing and to follow up when the district considers a device-use policy. No immediate policy action was taken at the meeting.
