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Burke County Schools reports lower screen time and mixed implementation feedback after balanced‑instruction rollout
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Summary
Burke County Schools staff told the board that an initiative to rebalance technology and traditional instruction produced measured reductions in ClassLink screen time for elementary and middle grades, strong survey support from parents and staff, but inconsistent implementation and requests for professional development.
At a special-call meeting, Burke County Schools staff presented results of its ‘balanced instruction’ initiative, reporting districtwide survey support but uneven classroom implementation and a need for more professional development.
District staff said they compared ClassLink usage during the school day for the week of Oct. 28, 2024, with Oct. 27, 2025, and found ‘‘a 17% reduction’’ in average ClassLink time for K–5 and a ‘‘13% reduction’’ for grades 6–8, while high-school usage rose about 3.97%. Staff cautioned that the ClassLink numbers reflect time spent in district apps only and do not capture time in external websites or apps.
The presentation summarized parent, teacher and administrator survey results. Staff said parents across grade spans reported perceived improvements in handwriting, reading and student behavior, plus fewer homework conflicts and better sleep patterns. Teachers reported improved student engagement and stronger social skills but noted some student resistance to increased paper‑based tasks and asked for clearer definitions and supports. Administrators said they saw more hands‑on learning and student projects.
Miss Kirkpatrick presented qualitative comments from the parent survey, saying parents noted ‘‘improved penmanship with fine motor skills’’ and ‘‘reduced headaches, eye strain, and screen‑related fatigue.’’ Staff also flagged inconsistent implementation across classrooms and schools and inconsistent communication about when and why instruction changed.
Board members pressed staff on guidance and oversight. One member said parents ‘‘are asking consistently... they need a little more guidance on what’s happening and where it’s happening.’’ District staff replied they plan to share the findings with principals and school leadership teams so each building can own implementation and communication, and to continue problem‑solving with administrators.
Staff reported some unintended operational outcomes: district printing costs and paper usage have increased; device damage rates for K–8 decreased nearly 2%; and office referrals classified under technology misuse declined by 26.2% from 2024 to 2025. Staff also described use of Gaggle, an online monitoring tool, to flag potential student safety concerns for human review.
Board members and staff agreed to continue the initiative through the school year, pursue suggested windows or usage guidance, and revisit details at the May retreat. Staff said they will share additional implementation guidance and professional‑development plans with principals and bring revised language and next steps back to the board for consideration.
