Northampton Schools Adopt Bell-to-Bell Cellphone Ban
The vote moves Northampton into compliance with upcoming state legislation requiring phone-free school policies.
NORTHAMPTON — The School Committee voted 7-3 Wednesday evening to adopt a bell-to-bell cellphone ban for next school year, replacing the district's current "off-and-away" policy in which students may use phones outside classrooms. The new policy will make phones inaccessible to students throughout the day, with exceptions for health-related needs or individualized education plans.
The move aligns Northampton Public Schools with pending state legislation that requires Massachusetts middle and high schools to adopt phone-free policies. The House of Representatives advanced a bill in April on a 129-25 vote that would ban device use in public schools and restrict social media for children. The Senate passed its own version, and the bills must be reconciled before going to Governor Maura Healey.
School Committee member Robbie Saner Sullivan argued that the bell-to-bell ban removes the burden of enforcement from teachers and prevents phone use in bathrooms and hallways, where behavioral problems can occur. She cited an April survey in which 57% of parents and 65% of staff strongly supported the stricter policy. Saner Sullivan said that cellphone behavioral addiction is real and that making the entire school phone-free creates a "genuine sanctuary" where no student is singled out.
School Committee member Anat Weisenfreund opposed the measure, saying the district lacked funding for staff or equipment needed to enforce it and that cellphone use was not the primary cause of student behavioral problems. Member Michael Stein acknowledged that a cultural shift against phone use in schools could be effective but cautioned that the ban is not a "silver bullet" for the district's broader challenges, including overcrowded classrooms and inconsistent policy enforcement.
Member Valerie Reiss supported the ban and suggested phone lock-up magnets, which would allow students to store their own devices, as an inexpensive way to implement the policy. Members Renika Montgomery-Tamakloe, Stein, and Weisenfreund voted against the measure. The policy is scheduled to take effect on August 26, after the superintendent and school administrators draft implementation details.