Parents, teachers push Ann Arbor Public Schools for all‑day phone‑free policy after students view violent content

Community members on Tuesday urged the Ann Arbor Public Schools board to adopt an all‑day phone‑free policy, telling trustees that classroom bans and teacher enforcement are not stopping the spread of violent videos and that phones are eroding students’ in‑person social time.

Several parents described specific incidents: Karen Biddle said her middle‑school son saw a graphic video at school and was left shaken, and she told trustees she would not want her children to see footage of a live death. Other speakers, including teacher Anya Markovic, said inconsistent classroom rules across buildings force teachers to spend class time enforcing phone rules rather than teaching.

Supporters recommended concrete approaches and offered implementation help. Lehi Handelsman, who said the coalition he represents has gathered nearly 900 petition signatures, recommended the Yondr pouch system used by larger districts such as Los Angeles Unified as one possible model for removing phones from students during the school day. ‘‘If you don’t have access to a phone, there’s nothing to fight about,’’ Markovic said, describing pockets and pouches as ways to reduce hallway and lunchroom distractions.

Trustees and Superintendent Parks responded that phone policy work is proceeding through the district’s committee structure and that any district‑wide change would consider implementation challenges, transportation and equity impacts. Parks also reminded the board that APS previously changed high‑school start times following a yearlong advisory process and that similar committee‑level study would inform phone policy recommendations.

The public‑comment period ended without the board voting on a policy; trustees said they expect committee discussions to continue and to bring recommendations back to the full board in the months ahead.