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Parent urges limits on Chromebook use; board points to parent resources and committee
Summary
A Morris Plains resident told the board she is concerned about unfiltered YouTube access on middle‑school Chromebooks and what she described as excessive, isolating device use; the board directed her to parent resources and invited involvement in a screen‑time committee.
A resident identifying herself as Katie spoke during the public‑comment period about Chromebook use in middle‑school classrooms and worries about students' access to unfiltered online content. "I'm here because I am a little concerned about the use of Chromebooks in the classroom," she said, describing two concerns: unfiltered YouTube access that her son can view during homeroom instead of getting help, and near‑ubiquitous device use that she said can be isolating.
Katie framed the issue in social‑emotional terms, referencing district goal 2 on enhancing social and emotional supports: "Are we serving them by not limiting access to technology?" she asked, and cited Jonathan Haidt's work on adolescent anxiety as context for her concerns.
The chair acknowledged the concern, referenced earlier resources Engelfried had mentioned (parent publications and SEL newsletters) and encouraged Katie to join the district's parent committee on reducing screen time. The chair said Melissa Johnson (identified as the Home and School chair) is leading a parent committee on the topic and offered to share district resources offline.
Why it matters: the comment connects classroom‑technology choices to student engagement and social‑emotional supports; following the comment, a trustee asked to add continued curriculum discussion on classroom technology to new business for future consideration.
Next steps: the board noted the issue will remain on the agenda for further discussion by curriculum and governance committees; parents were invited to join and to request materials from the district.
