School Committee hears first reading of proposal to tighten cell phone policy districtwide

The School Committee voted to approve Waltham High School’s open campus program for National Honor Society students to become an official district policy at its Sept. 3 meeting.

The Committee voted 4–2 approving the proposed policy, with committee members Elizabeth AlJammal and Edmund Tarallo voting against approval at both first and second readings.

Superintendent Marisa Mendonsa briefed the Committee prior to the vote with additional information surrounding oversight from NHS advisers and WHS assistant principals overseeing students signing in and out under the policy.

Curriculum “opt-out” regulation

Mendonsa spoke about updating Waltham Public Schools’ handbook to comply with the Supreme Court decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor.

Regulations on both the state and federal levels allow families of students in public schools the option to opt out of LGBTQ+ curriculum and content in the classroom.

The Superintendent requested approval in updating the handbook to include a statement informing families about requesting curriculum accommodations.

Both Mayor Jeannette A. McCarthy and Mendonsa made mention of equity, referencing Massachusetts Regulation 603 CMR 26.05, equal opportunity regulations from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

The Committee voted unanimously, approving the information to be added to the handbook.

Cell phone policy change?

In response to proposed state legislation requiring school districts to ban cell phones from school campuses, the Committee heard the first reading of an edit to the district handbook.

The edit would remove the current WHS practice of cell phone use during advisory and directed study, permitting use only during lunch and passing time in preparation for a ban altogether.

“Both of these classes count as time on learning for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and therefore we feel that they should be considered in the same vein as any other class that students take,” Mendonsa said.

Committee members discussed the update and concluded that it would be a policy change not a practice change.

After a request from committee member James Zanghi to postpone the vote and allow time for further research into the changes, McCarthy proposed Mendonsa prepare an edited copy of the handbook with her suggestions for the next meeting, in a similar process to the open campus approval. 

Additionally, the School Committee

• introduced Raymond Porch, the district’s chief officer of family and community engagement, who will help lead efforts in creating a proposal for the reutilization of 617 Lexington St.
• approved Christine Young as the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Medication Program Manager for Waltham Public Schools for the third year.
• heard back-to-school updates on WHS sports, clubs and academic activities from senior Anabelle Rutledge.
• reminded district stakeholders about two virtual forums happening on Sept. 15 to review equity audit findings from last spring and formalize a district equity team.
• announced a districtwide enrollment of just over 5,600 students so far this school year.

CORRECTION (Sept. 17, 11:05 p.m.): Edmund Tarallo also voted against the Open Campus Policy. Previously his name was not included among committee members who voted against the policy.