School Committee Adopts Cell Phone Policy 4-1
The Southampton School Committee voted 4-1 to adopt a cell phone and personal electronic devices policy requiring devices to be "off and out of sight" during the school day. Member Ashley Stone cast the dissenting vote, citing safety concerns for students who bike or walk to school unsupervised.
School Committee · Meeting of October 14, 2026
SOUTHAMPTON — The Southampton School Committee voted 4-1 to adopt a cell phone and personal electronic devices policy requiring devices to be "off and out of sight" during the school day. Member Ashley Stone cast the dissenting vote, citing safety concerns for students who bike or walk to school unsupervised. Resident Aaron Sims had urged a stricter "bell-to-bell" standard during public comment, saying it "means devices are put away and not accessible." Member Dylan Mawdsley said the committee is "not specifically...dealing with a major issue of cell phones in school." Separately, Chair Jennifer Johnson reported Hampshire Regional's heating system is down to one working boiler, with pooled green-community grants worth up to $500,000 per town currently unavailable to Southampton because state reporting has lapsed since the early 2000s, with a December 1 grant deadline approaching.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,775 words
Source: the School Committee meeting of October 14, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
Members read the rest of this story and every Southampton meeting we cover, in full.
Become a memberAlready a member? Sign inA 30-day free trial needs a payment method. After it, your membership renews at the price shown at checkout until you cancel, which you can do anytime from your account. Subscription terms
Share this story
Know someone in Southampton who follows town government? Share Townbrief Southampton: they can sign up free.