Fayette County superintendent says schools will limit classroom devices amid screen‑time concerns

Jeremy Duncan, superintendent of the Fayette County School Corporation, told listeners on the Healthy Fayette County program that the district has revised classroom device use after reviewing emerging research on screen time and child development. "There has been emerging research on the effects of screen time on child development," Duncan said, and the district decided to "move away from 1 to 1 within our K 1 classrooms" so younger students will not be assigned individual devices.

Duncan said the district also issued guidance for grades 2–12 and will stop assigning every child a device in grades 2–6; instead, classrooms will use devices kept on carts for shared use, "they won't be taking those home," he said. He described the move as driven by concerns about balancing tactile, hands‑on learning with digital instruction.

The superintendent said the district's approach is also shaped by recent state action requiring schools to adopt either a no‑device policy or one that mandates devices be turned off and stowed during the school day. "Our state, legislators made a decision at the state house that essentially said that schools have to have a policy that's either a no device policy ... or a policy where essentially they have to have those turned off and stowed away during the school day," Duncan said. Fayette County School Corporation has chosen a "secured storage policy," which he said will require students to put connected devices away; he added that high school will see the biggest change because middle schools already lock phones in lockers.

Moderator questions reflected common parental concerns about emergencies and travel. "The kids were able to make phone calls out which I think were important to parents," the moderator said; Duncan acknowledged the gray areas and noted the district's limited discretion under state law while stressing a district role in teaching responsible use. "We have an obligation to teach our kids ... that even though we don't may not agree with a rule or a law, that we have to follow it," he said.

Duncan framed the policy within a broader emphasis on student health and social‑emotional learning. He argued schools see students for much of the day and therefore have a role in promoting healthy habits and responsible technology use. "We call ourselves hope dealers," he said, describing the district's aim to give students "ideas and notions and ... plant seeds of hope in their hearts and their minds." He said the district focuses on preparing students for the day after graduation.

Duncan also shared a personal health update during the program, describing a diagnosis and treatment timeline in the context of mental health and perspective. He said he was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year, received a prostatectomy on Oct. 7 and has since begun hormone suppression therapy after a recent PSA uptick; he described the disease as aggressive, saying he had "a Gleason score of 9" and it was staged "3 c." Duncan spoke about how perspective shaped his approach to leadership and mental health.

There was no discussion of a formal board vote or timeline for further policy changes on the program. Duncan emphasized that the district will implement the secured storage practice and continue discussions with teachers and administrators about responsible device use and instructional balance.