Greenwich Board directs superintendent to draft bell‑to‑bell phone regulation for GHS after heated public debate

The Greenwich Board of Education voted to direct the superintendent to draft a regulation that would require students at Greenwich High School to keep cell phones off and out of use for the entire school day beginning with the 2026–27 school year. The motion passed on a roll call voice tally recorded as five in favor and three opposed.

The vote capped more than two hours of public comment and board discussion. Students, parents, teachers and union leaders gave opposing testimony. Gabriel Elazai, the current GHS student body president, told the board that a full bell‑to‑bell ban appealed to him on social grounds: "A phone in school just isn't worth that to me," he said, adding that banning devices could encourage face‑to‑face interaction among peers.

Union and PTA leaders urged caution. Margaret Jackens, president of the Greenwich Education Association, read results from a GA survey of more than 600 educators that the union released publicly in the days before the meeting, saying the survey shows "90.8% of respondents reported a decline in morale during their time in Greenwich public schools" and urging the board to address staff concerns before making sweeping operational changes.

Opponents from among students and parents argued that a full‑day ban would pose operational challenges and safety risks. Student speakers described logistical needs—coordinating rides, work schedules and family communications—and said narrow, enforceable limits focused on instructional time would be more practical. "If administrators and teachers are monitoring cell phone use, then attention is diverted from other more pressing areas of need at GHS," student Riona McCary said during public comment.

Board members debated enforcement and equity. Supporters argued the policy would reduce classroom distraction, bullying and the social harms many research reports associate with pervasive smartphone access during the school day. Opponents said the district lacked an operational plan to replace functions currently handled via phones (digital IDs, lunch accounts, schedule access) and asked for a clear cost and logistics analysis.

Superintendent Dr. Jones told the board she would develop the regulation if directed and work over the summer with administrators and stakeholders on implementation details, including exceptions for medical needs and strategies to reduce enforcement burdens on classroom staff.

The board recorded the motion to "direct the superintendent to revise the current regulation to include a bell‑to‑bell ban at the high school" and vote tallies were taken by roll call. The board also amended the district's 2026‑27 goals to include monitoring the ban and its effects as part of ongoing student support work.

Next steps: the board's directive sends the issue back to the administration for a draft regulation. Any final regulatory language will come before the board through the district’s policy/regulation process and will be accompanied by implementation guidance, the superintendent said.