Parents and teachers press Moorestown board for stricter cell‑phone policy as revisions move to first reading

A parent organizer and an educator urged the Moorestown Township Public School District Board of Education on May 20 to tighten the proposed cell‑phone policy for high school students as the board moved the policy to first reading.

Jamie Casner, a parent and organizer of a local 'Wait Until Eighth' initiative, told the board the proposed policy does not go far enough for high school students and urged the district to require phones be stored in lockers 'bell‑to‑bell' with access only for emergencies or staff permission, except as required by IEPs. “The mere presence of a smartphone, even when not in use, can negatively affect focus, learning, and memory,” Casner said, citing research and asking the board to strengthen high‑school restrictions to match the ‘away for the day’ approach proposed for K–8.

Lisa Trapani, identified as from Moorestown High School, thanked the board for taking up the policy and said she would organize student voice at the high school. Trapani shared an anecdote from a tenth grader who reports improved classroom performance when without a phone and encouraged more parent support for limiting access.

Policy committee chair (speaker 12) described the proposal (Policy 55 16, listed on the agenda as the electronic communications/smart devices policy): the committee recommends 'away for the day' for K–8 (phones not visible or active during school hours) and a 'responsible use' approach at the high school, where phones would be off/away during instructional time but permitted during lunch and transitions for limited responsible uses. The draft includes exceptions for instructional use, IEP or medical accommodations, and limited smartwatch use (timekeeping only, notifications disabled).

Committee members and board members said they will solicit community feedback between first and second reading, with the superintendent and staff gathering input from teachers and students in the first year of implementation and making adjustments as needed. “Between first reading and second reading, [administration] is going to reach out to the community… and use this opportunity to get feedback,” the policy chair said.

Separately, the board approved routine agenda business including minutes from prior meetings, a slate of policy readings (first and second readings as listed on the agenda), approvals for educational program items and finance/business items, and a roll‑call vote approving employee relations items (personnel matters). The board also approved the substantiated and unsubstantiated HIB findings reported earlier in the meeting.

The policy remains at first reading; board members asked that the administration return with community feedback and that the board monitor implementation during the policy’s first year.