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Parent urges Smithville R-II to adopt Screen Guardians digital-wellness curriculum
Summary
Katie Longhauser, founder of the Screen Guardians K–12 Digital Wellness program, urged the board to consider a research-based, 14-week curriculum (30 minutes per week) with teacher training and parent engagement to teach students about persuasive design, sleep and online safety; district staff said they will continue the conversation while balancing budget timing.
Katie Longhauser, who identified herself as a parent, former nurse and founder of the Screen Guardians program, addressed the Smithville R-II board during the public-comment portion to urge adoption of a K–12 digital-wellness curriculum. She said the program has been piloted in four schools across Kansas and Texas and is designed to be brief and teacher-friendly: 30 minutes once a week for at least 14 weeks, with embedded teacher professional development and parent-engagement tools.
Longhauser argued the absence of structured digital-wellness instruction leaves students without essential guidance about persuasive design, algorithms, sleep and mental-health risks. “To not teach thorough digital wellness to this point is education malpractice,” she told the board. She said the program equips students to recognize signs of overuse, restore balance and respond when others seek to exploit them online.
Board members thanked Longhauser and said staff (named staff: PJ and Denise) and leadership would continue the conversation as the district finalizes its budget. Superintendent staff said they would consider how the program might fit into school schedules and that any adoption would be evaluated alongside other priorities in the coming budget cycle.
The presentation did not produce a motion; board members requested further internal review and follow-up within the district’s budgeting and planning process.
