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High-school senior tells board cellphone rule has improved focus and may aid safety
Summary
A senior spoke during public comment in favor of the district’s cellphone policy, saying it reduced classroom distractions, increased engagement and may improve safety in emergencies; the speaker cited increased library checkouts as evidence and urged parents to reinforce safety strategies.
A Montoursville Area SD high-school senior told the board the district’s cellphone rule has reduced classroom distractions and fostered better student engagement, saying the change also offers safety benefits during emergency events.
"A child's life is worth more than a cell phone," the student said during the public comment portion of the meeting, urging parents and the community to support the policy. The speaker described clearer classroom focus, more face-to-face student interaction and increased participation: "I've seen firsthand students fully concentrating on lessons, actively participating in discussions, and engaging with material being taught." The student added that several teachers reported improvements.
The speaker also cited a change in library usage as evidence: "Our librarian...said that about 218 folks have been checked out this month alone compared to the average 40 being checked out before," phrased by the speaker as a comparison. The board did not independently verify those numbers during the meeting; the claim is reported as made by the speaker.
On safety, the senior said phones can increase chaos during critical incidents by prompting frantic parent-to-child contact that distracts and overwhelms students and staff. The speaker recommended parents help children memorize key phone numbers and plan how to get to safety and notify family during emergencies.
Board members thanked the student for the comment; no formal policy change or vote on the cellphone rule was taken at the meeting. The public comment was recorded for the board’s consideration as part of community feedback.
