Parents urge stronger limits on student screen time and Chromebook gaming; board pledges further discussion

Several parents and community members told the Ithaca City School District Board on June 30 that district‑issued Chromebooks are being used for non‑instructional gaming during the school day and that the district should do more to limit screen time and make devices tools for learning.

"I think the cell phone ban should be super straightforward and simple to implement," said a resident identified in the transcript as Elizabeth, urging the board to consider the addictive properties of apps and video games and to rethink how screens are used in classrooms.

Melissa Riley, a parent and a research neuroscientist at Cornell, described her 12‑year‑old son’s repeated access to browser games on his district Chromebook and nights without sleep. Riley said the district could use technical controls to restrict Chromebooks to sites required for schoolwork and recommended using a teacher override function in GoGuardian so teachers can allow sites only when instructional needs justify them. "Using GoGuardian's teacher override function, teachers could still allow classes to visit any website they deemed appropriate during their class," Riley said, summarizing a recommended approach.

Board members thanked speakers and said their comments had resonated. One board member said he expected a motion in the next school year to strengthen implementation of the district’s phone‑and‑screen policy. District staff and board members noted that teachers and administrators are already working to block or address gaming links during class, but also acknowledged students are technologically savvy and find workarounds.

The board did not adopt a new policy at the meeting but signaled it would consider stronger implementation measures and encouraged continued engagement from parents, PTAs and staff as the work proceeds.