Watertown School Board Approves Bell-to-Bell Phone Ban

School Committee · Meeting of May 4, 2026

Watertown School Committee voted unanimously to adopt a bell-to-bell ban on personal cell phones for all students, kindergarten through 12th grade. The new policy, numbered JICI, bars device use from the opening to closing bell with exceptions for students under an IEP, 504 plan or medical plan. Roughly twenty residents spoke during public comment, including task force co-chair Simon Murphy Holroyd, who said the committee "didn't vote for having phones throughout our schools, it's just happened." State Rep. Steve Owens told the board both the Massachusetts House and Senate have passed versions of a statewide all-day ban, which could take effect before the legislative session ends July 31.

The committee also adopted updated policies on building access and religious holiday observances, and heard parent complaints over special education compliance, including a "failing grade" on the state's determination matrix.

In the full story:

• The Full Story
• Why It Matters
• Key Motions & Votes
• Source
• Watertown's community access TV: School Committee meeting, May 4, 2026
• The complete report: 940 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of May 4, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.