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Parents, educators urge Ann Arbor board to adopt all-day phone-free schools
Summary
Two parents asked the board to adopt a first-bell-to-last-bell phone ban and centralized phone storage, citing research, equity and student mental-health benefits; Superintendent Parks said the governance committee will continue work on district phone expectations.
Amiel Handelsman, a parent and long-time Ann Arbor resident, urged the Ann Arbor Board of Education to adopt an all-day phone-free policy, saying a petition he is circulating has about 180 signatures and that the district's current classroom-limited approach won't achieve the desired results. "This petition ... is signed by parents and teachers who want all day phone free schools, not just phone free classrooms," Handelsman said.
Heather Esper, another parent, said a PTO book series on Jonathan Haidt's The Anxious Generation reinforced concerns about smartphone impacts on young people and urged a consistent districtwide policy. She pointed to a neighboring district (Chelsea) that implemented a no-phone policy this summer as an example.
Superintendent Jazz Parks acknowledged the issue and told trustees the matter will be discussed by the governance committee. Parks said the district and families are partners in supporting student focus and safety and that the board will continue internal work on cell-phone expectations.
Why it matters: Parents and some educators framed the debate in terms of classroom learning, student mental health and equity. Petitioners asked the board to move beyond classroom-only restrictions and to adopt a first-bell-to-last-bell approach with secure storage so phones are not left to an honor system that, they argued, undermines compliance.
What's next: Superintendent Parks said governance will address phone policies; no vote or formal policy action occurred at the meeting.
