Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Electronic Devices Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Year-one device-policy review: district reports higher compliance, staff suggest continued refinements
Summary
After one year under a revised personal electronic devices policy, district data show middle-school compliance and reduced classroom disruptions; the technology team recommended family education, standardized incident logging, and further attention to Chromebook "screen shifting."
The Wallingford-Swarthmore School District presented a year-one review of its updated personal electronic devices policy at the June 15 board meeting, reporting broad compliance and some shifts in the kinds of digital distraction staff observed.
"Staff reported only 3% of cases where device use caused frequent classroom disruption," said Kate Pquette, the district's director and supervisor of instructional technology, summarizing findings compiled from PBIS/SWISS referrals, staff pulse checks, student-advisory feedback, and parent/student surveys. Pquette said middle-school faculty reported nearly uniform compliance with the policy and that high-school teachers generally saw reductions in disruptive device use even as teachers noted some continuing visible phone presence.
What the policy says: Pquette reviewed the district's three-tier approach: elementary students' devices are off and away all day; middle-school devices are allowed only before the first bell and after dismissal and otherwise stored in lockers; high-school implementation gives teachers discretion for storage during instructional time while allowing student device use during non-instructional periods such as passing times and lunch.
Key findings and concerns: the presentation found that middle schools had the most consistent implementation and the clearest behavior change; high schools showed compliance in spirit though teachers still observed phones more than desired. Staff noted challenges with proximity effects (Bluetooth earbuds, students carrying non-functional devices in caddy systems while keeping active devices nearby) and a new concern: "screen shifting," where Chromebook usage has become a substitute distraction for phones. Pquette proposed options including a family-education initiative, continuous student education on digital wellness, standardizing incident reporting in SWISS, additional staff supports for classroom engagement, and better use of GoG Guardian monitoring for Chromebook behavior.
Legislative context: board members asked about pending state proposals. A board member summarized that a bell-to-bell phone ban (referenced as versions of SB 1014 and HB 1814) had passed both House and Senate versions and that the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) was advocating for local control; members said such bills, if enacted as strict mandates, could pose unfunded compliance burdens.
Responses and next steps: Dr. Johnson said the policy and the data suggest the district is "on the right track" but noted the district will continue to adjust implementation, including work at an upcoming leadership retreat and follow-ups with building administrators. Pquette said the district has collected raw data and will share more detailed findings on request; the leadership team will distill teacher-survey results at a retreat and consider changes for next year.
Closing: board members thanked the technology team for the analysis and urged improved consistency at the high-school level and additional attention to Chromebook monitoring and classroom engagement strategies in the coming year.
