School committee approves new rule limiting student phone use during instructional time, 4–2

The Biddeford School Committee voted 4–2 on Aug. 8 to approve an amended student cell-phone policy, JICJ, that bans phone use during instructional time and leaves building-level procedures to principals.

The policy, advanced by the committee’s policy subcommittee and explained at the meeting by a committee representative identified as Chris, limits the district’s ban to periods when a teacher is instructing and leaves details — such as whether classrooms use locked boxes, locker storage, or other procedures — to building administrators. Superintendent Ray told the committee the district has long expected students not to use phones during class and that the policy formalizes that expectation.

Why it matters: board members and parents framed the vote as an effort to reduce distractions and the harms of social media during school hours. Supporters said teachers had repeatedly asked for board-level backing after classroom-level methods failed; opponents said the policy did not go far enough…