Committee refers cell‑phone draft to Rules & Policy, approves calendar and accepts city appropriation

The School Committee received an overview of an ad‑hoc committee’s draft bell‑to‑bell cell‑phone policy and discussed next steps on Feb. 12.

Superintendent Bonner summarized core elements of the draft: elementary students encouraged to leave devices at home; middle and high school devices turned off and secured in school‑issued pouches during the day; a restorative sequence of consequences for violations; medical exemptions with individualized plans; and emergency communications protocols. Bonner asked to publish the draft for community feedback and bring the policy to the committee for first and second reads in March and April.

Several committee members, including Member Eisenberg, said they wanted the Rules & Policy subcommittee to review and refine the draft before publishing it broadly so that the subcommittee could ensure organized presentation and incorporate student input and civics/fiscal implications. A motion to refer the draft to Rules & Policy was moved and seconded; the motion passed on a roll call and the superintendent was asked to circulate the full multi‑tab document to committee members and the subcommittee.

On other business, the committee approved the 2026–27 school calendar (draft 4) with a late‑August student start and June 11 end date and appropriate conference/teacher‑workday scheduling. The committee also voted to accept a mayoral appropriation approved by the City Council (a package of operating and capital items submitted Feb. 5). The appropriation vote passed on a roll call; the business administrator noted some items may be covered by circuit‑breaker reimbursement and that capital items align with the capital plan.