Westport Superintendent Seeks Input On Proposed School Cell Phone Ban

WESTPORT, CT — Westport Schools Superintendent Thomas Scarice is seeking input on his recommendation of a ban on cell phone and wearable technology use in the district's public schools.

Scarice made the recommendation a few weeks ago, and asks that the school system community reach out to him or the Board of Education with their thoughts.

"There are no immediate changes planned for the start of the school year, but there will be an ongoing inquiry into this matter and changes could be made during the school year," Scarice wrote in a message to families Friday.

Under his recommendation, Scarice said:

I unequivocally recommend that the Westport Public Schools establish completely "phone free" environments for students in all schools (K-12), prohibiting access to personal smartphones and all wearable technology, by employing tools and/or methods that do not require faculty and staff to be responsible for the primary enforcement of these restrictions.

Currently, the district allows middle schoolers to bring such technology to school, under supervision by faculty and administrators, and allows Staples High School students to have "unfettered use" of cell phones and wearable technology, except during instructional times.

"I encourage you to stay involved on this matter, and to share your thoughts if you are so inclined via email to my attention (tscarice@westportps.org), and to the attention of the Westport Board of Education (boe@westportps.org)," Scarice wrote.

To download a PDF of the Scarice's cell phone/wearable technology recommendation, click here.