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Auburn administrators recommend keeping no-phone pilot; committee calls for clearer locker access and student focus groups
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Summary
After a yearlong pilot, administrators said serious phone-related incidents fell and classroom focus improved; staff recommended keeping the district's no-cell-phone policy while the committee asked for better locker access, clearer parent communication and student focus groups after some students reported feeling less safe.
Administrators from Auburn High School and Auburn Middle School told the school committee on April 8 that the district's no-cell-phone pilot has reduced major phone-related incidents and improved classroom engagement, and they recommended continuing the policy while staff work to address student concerns about feeling safe without phones.
Daniel DeLongchamp, Auburn High School presenter (speaker 11), summarized incident data and teacher observations: "In the 24-25 school year, there were 10 behavior-related incidents" tied to phones; "this year, we've had 3 such incidents" during the comparable period, he said, adding that many minor occurrences (students sent out of class for phones) do not carry formal discipline. He told the committee the school is treating infractions as learning moments and has not experienced lost or broken phones while in school custody.
Middle-school principal Matt Carlson (speaker 18) and others described survey responses showing staff largely support the policy and a majority of students at both levels reporting some improvement in focus; at the high school, combined "yes" and "somewhat" responses were about 53%, with 35% reporting no difference and 11% reporting worse focus. Chamberlain noted a remaining concern: survey results showed some students saying they felt less safe without phone access. "We can't go forward with 50% of kids not feeling safe," one committee member said; another called for focused communication to parents and a clear emergency flowchart.
Administrators described measures already in place to maintain communication in emergencies: students may use classroom phones, the main office, guidance or the nurse; email access via district-issued devices remains available. DeLongchamp said the system for progressive discipline (first offense: reminder; second: phone held in office; third: parent pick-up) has reduced repeated disruptions. "I've spent an afternoon in 10 different classrooms and I did not see one phone," DeLongchamp said. "I absolutely think there's been increased productivity."
The committee discussed practical improvements: easing locker access timing to reduce anxiety about reaching lockers between classes, clarifying to students and families that email and office phone options exist, and conducting student focus groups to better understand why some students report feeling less safe. Dr. Chamberlain flagged pending state-level legislation that would restrict cell-phone use in K–12 settings and direct DESE to pilot device-control programs.
Outcome: No policy vote was taken. The committee directed staff to return with proposed handbook updates, a plan for focus groups and clearer emergency-contact guidance for families.
