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Substitute and counselors urge phone rules, mental‑health support; recycling vendor shares classroom packet
Summary
Public commenters asked the district for a clear phone policy and described in‑school mental‑health supports; a waste‑management vendor offered free classroom recycling packets tied to statewide SB 1383 goals.
Several public presenters used the district's public‑comment period to press for classroom policy and to describe student supports.
Addie Miller, a substitute teacher, told the board that unrestricted phone access is harming attention and learning and recommended a clear district phone policy that keeps phones away during class unless a teacher directs their use, allows phones at lunch and between classes, applies reasonable consequences for misuse and includes lessons on digital responsibility. “Phones have become a default escape… the result: low quality work, shorter attention spans, and fewer meaningful interactions in the classroom,” Miller said.
Behavioral health counselors who work in the district described their workload and services, saying they provide individual therapy and resilience training and have already received more than 100 referrals this school year. Counselors said interns expand capacity and new private spaces will let them assign fuller intern caseloads.
Michael Heffman of Vertech Waste Industries presented a school activity packet and an illustrated classroom storybook called Barrels of Fun to help teach recycling and organics diversion (aligned with Senate Bill 1383 objectives). Heffman said about 150 packets have been distributed in district classrooms and left materials for staff and parents.
Student board member Kim Fong summarized youth programming, describing a district 'Disconnect to Connect' week of activities to help students reflect on phone use, a community‑service fair and other student engagement projects. Fong said events included interactive activities, guest speakers and booths from local organizations to educate students about phone use and wellness.
Board members thanked presenters and asked staff to continue work on mental‑health internship capacity and to consider phone‑policy proposals as part of broader instructional strategies. No formal vote was taken on the comments themselves.
