Parents and health experts press Unionville-Chadds Ford board to pursue K–12 phone-free policy

Parents and mental-health professionals told the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District board on June 17 that the district should adopt a K–12, bell-to-bell phone-free policy to reduce distraction, cyberbullying and youth mental-health harms.

Speakers asked the board to make a policy a formal goal for 2024–25 and sketched implementation details. "We are encouraged that the idea of phone free schools is being seriously talked about K to 12 for our district," said Sandy Young, a Birmingham Township parent, who cited research by Jonathan Haidt and survey data linking smartphone proliferation to rising adolescent anxiety and depression. Jenny Tabia Mesa, who has three children in district schools, urged evenly enforced, trauma-informed rules that include secured pouches and clear exceptions for students with IEPs or medical needs.

The request came during public comment, where speakers proposed concrete components: "Bell to bell personal electronic device restrictions," secured pouches such as Yonder, clearly communicated enforcement expectations, and a district-level commitment to trauma-informed policy language, Mesa said. Heather John, a psychiatrist, urged the board to weigh five categories of concern — family contact, transparency, emergencies, school tasks and developmental timing — and to design exceptions and safeguards rather than an inflexible ban.

Board members responded that they had heard the concerns and would consider the proposals. "You will see some movement, from this board over time on this particular issue," said board member mister Schartz. Another director noted that two Chester County intermediate schools had introduced phone‑free pilots this year using Yonder pouches and reported few complaints.

The board did not vote on a policy at the meeting. Administration and several board members framed next steps as review and community engagement: superintendent doctor Sandoval described any feasibility or policy work as a multi-step process with additional decision points in the months ahead. Several board members said they would consider elevating phone-policy revision to a board-level goal for 2024–25 and work with parents who volunteered to help design and communicate any change.

The meeting closed with an invitation for continued public input; the board plans further discussion as part of its governance and goal-setting process.