Public commenter urges stricter discipline for violent incidents, asks district to pause elementary iPad use
May 15, 2026 | KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS, School Districts, West Virginia
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Harriet Cartmill, a longtime educator who said she has returned as a substitute, urged the Kanawha County Schools Board of Education on May 14 to adopt stronger approaches to classroom safety and suggested temporarily removing iPads from elementary classrooms.
"We need a learning environment for these behavior disorder children. We need a learning environment for the autistic," Cartmill told the board during public comment, saying her class at times included multiple students with significant behavior challenges and that evacuations had occurred. She said teachers are leaving the profession because classroom safety and accountability have deteriorated.
Cartmill referenced Kentucky legislation she described as requiring year‑long expulsion when a student is accused of assault, but said she did not support that punishment as written. "I'm not with that because what are you going to do with that child for the rest of the year?" she said. She asked the board to review the Kentucky bill and consider a K–12 approach with different punishments for younger grades.
Cartmill also urged the district to "step out and have the courage" to store elementary iPads for a semester as a test. "They're not thinking. They're not using their brain. Let's give them an opportunity. One semester. What is it going to hurt?" she said, citing concerns about handwriting, spelling and attention and referring to research she said showed countries reconsidering digital reliance in classrooms.
During questions and answers that followed, Mrs. White asked district leadership for a clearer exposition of how iPads and programs such as I‑Ready are used day to day. Dr. Potter acknowledged the district used devices heavily during COVID and said some practices had persisted longer than intended: "I do think the younger students need more face‑to‑face interaction and less screen time," Dr. Potter said and committed to providing a summer update on how devices and instructional programs are being used in K–12 classrooms.
No formal policy action was taken at the meeting; the board requested staff provide details and a follow‑up presentation over the summer.
"We need a learning environment for these behavior disorder children. We need a learning environment for the autistic," Cartmill told the board during public comment, saying her class at times included multiple students with significant behavior challenges and that evacuations had occurred. She said teachers are leaving the profession because classroom safety and accountability have deteriorated.
Cartmill referenced Kentucky legislation she described as requiring year‑long expulsion when a student is accused of assault, but said she did not support that punishment as written. "I'm not with that because what are you going to do with that child for the rest of the year?" she said. She asked the board to review the Kentucky bill and consider a K–12 approach with different punishments for younger grades.
Cartmill also urged the district to "step out and have the courage" to store elementary iPads for a semester as a test. "They're not thinking. They're not using their brain. Let's give them an opportunity. One semester. What is it going to hurt?" she said, citing concerns about handwriting, spelling and attention and referring to research she said showed countries reconsidering digital reliance in classrooms.
During questions and answers that followed, Mrs. White asked district leadership for a clearer exposition of how iPads and programs such as I‑Ready are used day to day. Dr. Potter acknowledged the district used devices heavily during COVID and said some practices had persisted longer than intended: "I do think the younger students need more face‑to‑face interaction and less screen time," Dr. Potter said and committed to providing a summer update on how devices and instructional programs are being used in K–12 classrooms.
No formal policy action was taken at the meeting; the board requested staff provide details and a follow‑up presentation over the summer.
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