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District reports 219 high-school cell-phone violations in first days; staff, committee praise strict policy
Summary
District staff reported 219 high-school cell-phone violations across four schools since the first day of school; presenters said two incidents led to suspension and three students were repeat offenders. Committee members and a student speaker offered strong support for the stricter approach, calling it a "game changer."
Under new business, district staff reported counts of high-school cell-phone violations since the start of the school year and described broad committee support for a strict, no-exceptions approach.
A staff presenter told the Conduct Committee the district pulled data at 1:30 p.m. and recorded 67 violations in grade 9, 65 in grade 10, 58 in grade 11 and 29 in grade 12, for a total of 219 violations across four high schools. The presenter said two of those incidents resulted in suspension and three students were repeat offenders.
Committee members and staff responded positively to the initial results. One committee member described the policy as a "game changer," saying teachers reported lighter workload and that the enforcement has spurred community conversation and mostly positive parent feedback. "It's been fantastic," the committee member said, adding that the committee should "take the politics out of this one."
A student committee member told the panel the change helped personal focus and student interactions: "I find myself, like, focusing more in school, like, without, like, having my cell phone on and stuff like that." Another member referenced a Concord Monitor article reporting students found the change easier than expected.
Presenters and committee members said the district will continue to monitor enforcement, disciplinary outcomes and community feedback. The committee did not take formal action during the meeting.
