Parents, teachers and students press MMSD for bell‑to‑bell cell phone ban
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Summary
More than a dozen parents, caregivers, teachers and medical professionals urged the Madison board on Jan. 26 to adopt a districtwide bell‑to‑bell cell phone ban, citing student attention, equity, and mental‑health concerns; the board heard detailed testimony but did not vote on a districtwide ban at the meeting.
A steady stream of parents, staff and health professionals used the Jan. 26 public comment period to urge the Madison Metropolitan School District to adopt a districtwide "bell‑to‑bell" or "away all day" cell phone policy.
"We all have so many screens in our lives," said Lindsay Sutton (public comment), describing a middle‑school son who, she said, "sometimes feels like he's back in virtual learning again during school." Multiple speakers pointed to research and professional guidance: pediatricians and school social workers described shortened attention spans and increased anxiety tied to smartphones, while other parents cited local and national studies showing improved classroom outcomes after phone bans.
Speakers asked the board to go beyond the requirements of Wisconsin Act 42 (which restricts phones during instructional time) and implement a policy that would keep phones away at lunch, recess and passing periods. Amber Chaunsky, a parent, said existing school contact systems are sufficient: "If I need to contact them, I'm happy to call the front office." A practicing pediatrician told the board that some students rely on phones for medical devices, and that exceptions should be preserved in IEPs and 504 plans; board members and administration acknowledged exceptions for health and special‑education needs.
Many parents said a consistent, districtwide policy would reduce inequities and remove the enforcement burden from classroom teachers. "A bell‑to‑bell ban promotes consistency and fairness across schools and classrooms," one parent said. Student and parent advocates also asked the district to update a cell‑phone policy last revised in 2014.
Board members acknowledged the volume and substance of testimony and the timing of state law changes; the board did not vote on a districtwide ban at the Jan. 26 meeting. Administration said it has begun gathering parent feedback and will continue to engage schools and families as policy options are developed.