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Parents and community groups press Pittsburgh Public Schools to adopt bell‑to‑bell phone ban
Summary
At a Dec. 15 public hearing, parents, teachers and community advocates urged the board to adopt Policy 02/16 to ban personal cell phones during the school day, citing research on distraction and mental‑health harms and asking that exceptions be narrow and clearly defined.
Dozens of parents, educators and community advocates urged the Pittsburgh Public Schools board on Monday to adopt a districtwide bell‑to‑bell ban on personal cell phones, saying the devices disrupt learning, widen inequities and contribute to student mental‑health problems.
"Smartphones in learning disrupts focus, disrupts creativity, it disrupts direct connection and communication, and likely has serious mental health impacts on students. Period," said Sarah Fishbein, a parent who opened the public comment period.
Speakers repeatedly asked the board to adopt the proposed policy (02/16) with edits recommended by Pittsburgh Public Unplugged and to narrow exceptions to documented medical needs, IEPs and 504 plans. Judith Adelson, a parent and PTO volunteer, said she…
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