By NEIL ZOLOT
WAKEFIELD – The School Committee will spend about a month mulling over proposed changes in a cell phone use policy for Wakefield Memorial High before they finalize it in August. “The language is something we worked on during the school year,” Principal Amy Mcleod said at the School Committee meeting Tuesday, June 24. “We’ll codify it over the summer.”
Her current proposal is for cell phones to be “off and away” in a bag or locker during the school day, except when used for educational purposes and available to students at lunch, but not in passing time between classes. “We don’t want positive uses to change,” McLeod said in regard to students using their cell phones instead of a laptop computer if necessary and to make videos. “They can be a tool, but can be incredibly distracting. We’re overreliant on technology. When it breaks down, students don’t know where to go next.”
She also said information students need is available on their laptops.
Not many students use lockers so cell phones are often placed in a “cell phone hotel” case, but McLeod said they are still in the room and students often grab them on trips to the bathroom. In a few cases, students have more than one cell phone, put one in the cell phone hotel and still have their other one. “They’re hard for teachers to regulate,” she reported. “Their job is to teach not monitor cell phones.”
She also said there would be a sliding scale of disciplinary action, including warnings and discussions with parents.
Any policy will behave in accordance with a pending bill sponsored by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and Attorney General Andrea Campbell, specifically the Safe Technology Use and Distraction Free Education for Youth (STUDY) Act, which “seeks to implement a bell-to-bell restriction on access to cell phones and personal electronic devices during school hours to improve the overall learning environment and school culture.”
McLeod said a local policy would also extend to the staff. “We’re concerned about how much cell phones are used by everyone,” she said. “Professionals spend a lot of time communicating using text messages, but we have to model behavior.”
“We’re all guilty of it,” School Committee member Stephen Ingalls acknowledged.
In Public Comment at the outset of the meeting a mother-daughter team expressed concerns over the proposed policy. High school parent Ann Herzog said the idea no students should have cell phones had an ableist perspective. “Students with disabilities often rely on smartphones and other devices to assist them with communication, medical needs, scheduling, note taking, calming techniques, and more,” she feels. “Banning cell phones completely in the school setting in the middle of a severe mental health crisis for young people in our country seems irresponsible. Under this proposal, students would lose access to phone based crisis lines. Students would not be able to access the 988 suicide and crisis hot line, 911, or other emergency resources. These resources have been researched and proven to be effective tools in the mental health crisis. Students have the right to access needed assistive technology under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Rehabilitation Act. According to the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, a nonprofit that advocates for the rights of students with disabilities and their families when federal, state and local governments develop and finalize policies intending to limit student screen time on a computer or use of a cellular phone or other electronic devices, these entities must take care to ensure that no policy or its provisions directly conflict or interfere with student rights and opportunities under IDEA and the Americans with Disabilities Act.”
Her daughter, Class of 2026 student Mikayla added, “A big part of why this policy makes me so frustrated is because I have been looking forward to the memories my senior year will bring for most of my life. I have seen every other grade in the last 10 years get to document these memories through their cameras on their cell phones, but my grade will not have this opportunity. We are the last graduating class that will not experience the new high school, and now we will not be able to document the last year of WHS as we know it.”
Both suggested a senior privilege for cell phone use. “I would ask that if the policy were to proceed, seniors with grades in good standing be exempt from this policy, much like the current senior privilege policy in place pertaining to Academic Support Classes (ASC or Study Halls),” Mikayla said. “Another argument that could come forward from this policy is that it could actually be detrimental to the social life of every student at WMHS. Lunch is the one time that most of us see many of our friends during the school day. By not permitting us to use our phones during ASC, and only allowing them during lunch, it is very likely that this could lead to everyone being on their phones during lunch, causing the social scene at WHS to overall deteriorate. I’d also like to add that I know from personal experience that if a student is using their cell phone in ASC, more often than not it is because they have finished all their work and have nothing more to work on, rather than because they are avoiding doing their homework. I would argue with both of these points that if there is going to be only one period where phones are permitted to be used, ASC is a much better time for this than lunch.”
“They are not banned, but we’re asking them to be off,” McLeod reacted. “Students will be able to access phones as needed.”
She also said efforts will be made to educate families and students about the policy. “We know not all folks and students agree with this,” she admitted, based, in part, on results of polling students.
“I don’t want anyone to think the language lacks consideration,” schools’ Superintendent Doug Lyons added. “If a student needs a device they will be given a provision.”
Ann Herzog also asked where confiscated cell phones, some worth hundreds of dollars, would be kept.
McLeod answered they would be kept in a safe place in the office.
In discussion, School Committeeman Peter Davis commented, “I’m concerned they’ll be shut off except during lunch. Many students use cell phones responsibly and to communicate with teachers,” and agreed use could be allowed during ASC.
“Moving forward doesn’t preclude more exceptions,” McLeod offered. “We need to learn where the push points are.”
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In other business, School Committee members thanked retiring Town Administrator Steve Maio for his service in that role and as an advocate for the schools. “Every School Committee over the last 17 years owes you a debt of gratitude,” Tom Markham told Maio, joining him at the table opposite the members’ tables. “Thank you for the partnership,” referring to work on the Galvin Middle School from 2013 to 2015 and current construction of a new high school, among other things.
Fontanella thanked Maio for his belief “as the schools go, so goes the town,” undoubtedly a result of Maio’s father and being a local schools’ superintendent, his mother Dorothy and wife Jean being retired teachers, his own graduation from WMHS 45 years ago, having two sons who also graduated WMHS and having grandchildren in the Wakefield schools now.
“We’re grateful to have had the opportunity to work with you,” Lyons added. “I don’t know if I’ve ever worked with a more solutions-based leader.”
Maio responded, “I like working with Doug,” and told the members “what you do is amazing.”
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In addition the members approved a 3.5 percent Cost of Living Adjustment in Lyons’ salary.