Parents urge MMSD to adopt 'bell‑to‑bell' phone ban; some written statements referenced
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
Several parents and written statements urged the Madison Metropolitan School District to go beyond state law and adopt a bell‑to‑bell cell-phone ban, citing improved classroom focus, reduced bullying and benefits to students' social‑emotional development.
An online and in‑person slate of parents urged the Madison Metropolitan School District Board to adopt a bell‑to‑bell cell phone ban on Nov. 24, telling trustees that the district should go beyond recently enacted state law (Act 42) and prohibit phones during passing periods, lunch and recess.
An online parent said research and district examples show stricter policies can improve classroom focus, cut bullying and reduce incidents such as students recording fights. The speaker noted a Change.org petition with more than 300 signatures and cited a Florida district’s experience linking stricter policies to improved test scores and attendance in preliminary reports.
The parent speaker recommended phone-storage approaches — pouches or lockers — rather than policies that allow phones in pockets or backpacks, and urged district partnership with families to delay and limit smartphone access during the school day.
What’s next: President Nichols noted the district received 14 written statements on a cell‑phone policy in advance of the meeting; the board did not take immediate formal action on a district‑wide ban during the Nov. 24 meeting.