Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Instructional Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Parents urge Northshore School District to make elementary lunch periods screen free
Summary
Several parents asked the board to adopt districtwide guidance making elementary school lunch periods screen free, saying screens during lunch reduce conversation, social opportunities and restorative breaks for children; the comments were made during public comment and no board action was taken at the meeting.
Multiple parents and volunteers urged the Northshore School District board to adopt districtwide guidance to make elementary lunch periods screen free.
Evie Gold, a volunteer who said she has observed classrooms, said screens during meals distract children from eating and reduce conversation, calling lunch “the right place to begin” for district guidance. Molly Adams, a parent, said making lunch screen free “is one of the simplest ways to align daily practice with the values our district has already embraced,” citing the American Academy of Pediatrics’ guidance on breaks during the school day.
Ellie Mayers, also a parent of incoming students, described the gradual normalization of screens for movement breaks, story time and transitions and said a single, achievable expectation for lunch would protect social and developmental time for children.
All comments were made during the public comment period; President Sandy Hayes reminded the speakers that board discussion of non-agenda items is restricted by Washington state law and no immediate policy action occurred at this meeting. Commenters were invited to submit written materials to district staff for follow up.
