White River Unified District Board - Phone-Free School - Family Information Night 8/27/2026

underway. Um, thank you all for coming out. My name is Shane Oaks. I'm the high school principal here at White River Valley High School. Um, and before we uh start tonight, I just want to uh give a shout out and a thanks to the Yankee Bookshop uh for sponsoring tonight's event. Um, gave you all a raffle ticket. We've got some gift cards from them uh and a copy of the book, The Anxious Generation. Um, which is something I'll talk a little bit about um before we get too deep into um things here. So tonight uh I want to cover uh four main things. Um first the the law and our policy. Uh why are we doing this? Uh two we'll spend a little bit of time uh just talking about the why. Um some of the research and information that we've learned um in the past 5 years or so. um now that we've had some time to study the impact of both uh personal electronic devices like cell phones, smartphones, and uh also social media. Uh and then we're going to get right into what it's going to look like for students here, what students can expect, parents can expect. Um and um you know, I'll field any questions that folks have. also have some uh just recommendations and strategies uh on uh how we can support this transition uh because it really is going to be a community effort. Um I our faculty was meeting today. Um everybody uh across the staff is universally in support of this um this new law and this transition and recognize the benefits. And we also uh you know we work with students and we know that this is going to be a big lift um and change and challenge uh and we don't want to be naive to that um either. So um first I just want to talk about I there's two books that I read over this summer that were both recommended to me um at some educational conferences that I went to. Uh the first is The Anxious Generation from Jonathan Hadit. Uh and the second is Behind Their Screens uh by Emily Weinstein and Carrie James. Um and these two books uh I'll start with The Anxious Generation first. Uh this really looks at um how not only cell phones and and smartphones have changed our lives um on a daily basis. It also goes back and looks at some of the uh developmental stages that all children go through as they're growing up. Um some society some societal changes um and shifts that took place um starting in the early 90s. um uh around parenting strategies and and what he calls uh overp protectionism. Uh where we as parents got a little more concerned about fears in the community and stop letting students uh young children have the freedom to be out independently playing on their own, interacting with others, doing things. Um and some of the consequences of that. Um, and so for when I read this, it was fascinating. Um, I particularly appreciated the developmental uh, information that was in there. And he really uses that as a foundation to talk about and explain kind of what's happening and some really concrete practical strategies that um, that parents and families and communities can do to com combat some of the negative impacts uh, impacts that we've seen. This second book, Behind Their Screens, uh this is uh written by two researchers from Harvard uh and analyzed over uh you know 3600 um teenagers uh through both surveys. Come on in guys. um through both surveys um and interviews and the focus of this work was really to understand what the students perspective is um how they're feeling and I again I shared with staff earlier today um you know I'm a product of the 80s and 90s graduated in 96 uh a lot of this social media stuff is uh really foreign to me I was very uh resistant and anti- Facebook as that was coming out. And the reality is social media and things like that, technology have just continued to advance and um and really shape the way that we communicate and interact with one another. Um but this this book in really helping to articulate, understand and express or explain um youth perspective uh and some of the concerns, fears, challenges that they face uh was really kind of eye opening for me. Even though I work with students um all the time, I have uh a 16-year-old and uh almost 21-year-old daughter uh that certainly have lived through this and impacted it. So I also bring my parent hat to this uh conversation and experience and um yeah, so again just really fascinating stuff um and I found it really helpful. uh I think will will definitely shape the my approach and and talking with students about these things. Um so just a little bit of uh data and information this is from uh the anxious generation. We have seen 145% increase in teenage girls depression since 2010. uh we've seen 167% increase in the suicide rate for girls ages 10 through 14 in that same time period. Um and 40% of teenage girls say uh that they often feel lonely. Um and so those are uh just some of the statistics and data that are out there which have led to um you know class action lawsuits and there was some uh conversation about META and uh the decision that came forth I think just today um uh around that. So um you know the this isn't just something our community or our state is grappling with. Uh there are now 24 states around the country that have uh passed laws to implement uh bell-to-bell cell phone bans. Uh Vermont being one of those. Um had uh some of his recommendations um no smartphones before high school. Uh no social media before the age of 16. Um phone-f free schools, the bell-to-bell policy that we're implementing here. Um, and I alluded to this a little bit earlier, but uh there's a he had a real emphasis on far more independence and unstructured pay uh play uh for children and youth. Um, and I I just highly encourage you to um read or listen to that book. Uh, from behind their screens. Um these are like the top nine things that teenagers are talking about as concerns or thoughts that they have related to uh today's digital world. Uh first and foremost, digital drama and cyber bullying. Two, comparing to others on social media. Three, too much screen time. Uh even teen some teenagers recognize that it's problematic. Um, four, concerns around risk to private information. Five, um, and this is the one that I, as an adult and parent, really struggle to understand, but the pressure to always be connected. Uh and I think that there's a real um kind of push and pull between um social isolation um or sense of social isolation when you are not online when you know all your peers are um getting notifications things like that. Um number six, digital footprints last forever. um concerns around uh connecting with strangers, running into inappropriate comment uh content uh and being asked for inappropriate photos um images, things like that. So the solicitation of nudes um and such. Um so these are some of the the major concerns and things that are weighing on um students minds according to this study. Um some of the recommendations that they have in this book um really is uh for adults and parents to move beyond this uh sense of protectionism um that relies on rules and restrictions. Uh those things alone can just really amplify anxiety um which becomes problematic. Uh we need to learn to recognize the real complexities um that these devices and social media brings. Um and we need to partner with and and um connect with and understand what our our youth are experiencing. Um so some strategies for achieving those things. Um asking over assuming uh I really challenge folks to be curious. um empathy over eye rolling, uh normalizing without minimizing. So really kind of validating a student's feelings and experience. Um and then uh aligning and partnering with them to try to navigate a path forward uh and normalizing without essentializing. So avoiding uh framing this struggle of how all teens are and um that sort of thing uh that sort of mindset can really shut down conversations. So uh parents uh I really encourage you to take a look at those um books and resources that are out there. Um so what does it mean for us? Um, state of Vermont has passed uh, Act 72, which requires every Vermont school to adopt a policy prohibiting personal cell phone and other electronic devices um, to be used from arrival to dismissal or belt to bell. Um, so here at White River Valley, what's that going to look like? Um so from 8:00 to 2:56 when the final bell rings um we are uh phone free electron personal electronic device free for the day. Um students are going to be provided a quiet case pouch um so that they're able to retain possession of their cell phone personal electronic devices um that they might want to bring with them um throughout the school day. Uh but those pouches lock um and are also signal blocking so that they're essentially um rendered useless uh when they're in those pouches. Um so that is really a balance between other strategies or approaches where uh a school might uh ask every student to turn the cell phone in as they walk in uh where things are held or collected in the office. uh and not return till the end of the day. Um so uh the you all have um or Annette, you grab a few more. Um don't run back here. Hold on. Uh this is the quiet case pouch. It's very similar to the yonder pouch which I think uh most people have have heard of or uh is kind of familiar with. Um but this is simply a a secure device uh or pouch um that I said it earlier will block the cell phone signals uh prevent it from getting on Wi-Fi uh networks things like that and has a uh special magnetic lock. So that green uh kind of handle at the end as you zip it close and push that down uh it requires a specialized magnet to unlock. Okay. So students are going to come into school pass around a magnet just so you can kind of play with the locks themselves. Um so students will come in uh all students are going to go to home room or advisory first thing in the morning uh at 8:00. Uh that is where they'll be expected to uh secure any personal electronic devices that they brought in with them. Um, and then they can uh keep it on their person, in their backpack, in their locker, um, wherever they feel comfortable uh, with throughout the school day. Okay. At uh, at the end of the day, right before the final bell rings, we are going to have some of these boxes that house the magnets themselves inside of them. um that will be at uh there'll be two of these at the main high school entrance where most students go in and out of. There'll be one at the front entrance as well. Um and so students will be able to unlock their pouches there. Um once that final bell rings, uh they're allowed to use them just like they have been in the past. uh which is great for, you know, students that have after school activities, um sports, uh drama, things like that where they might need to be in communication with parents and things like that. >> So, does it only unlock with that magnet or will it work with the kitchen magnet? Because if they forget to unlock it before they leave the school building, >> can they unlock it at home? >> Yeah. Uh there are certainly ways to get into these pouches. It's not foolproof. Um, but it is, uh, you know, you would really have to either damage or, uh, have some really, really high strength specialized magnet. U, they're out there. Um, but, uh, really, I think >> they're not going to. >> In my experience, students are going to forget to unlock that. He might forget to unlock when he got the bus. >> He's running for the bus. Yeah. Like if you're running for the bus and you get the bus back there and you're only unable to unlock too many people. No, >> there's there's forever. People are going to be late, >> right? Yeah. >> It won't take forever. Um and we also have other magnets that um teachers particularly like the chorus is seventh period has a class of about 35 students. That teacher is going to have a magnet with them. though that um you know students can unlock it on their way out. >> Getting the bus back there. >> There's a lot of kids taking that bus. >> As a bus driver, I just assume they stay locked. >> About a half an hour there unlocked and get on the bus. >> Usually the bus ar would arrive either way early or way late. Yeah, but usually you're back in Bethl at 3:20. >> Yeah. >> But Bethl will have the same things, won't they? >> There's plenty of time. >> Isn't this schoolwide or is this just high school? >> This is just the high school that's using these. This uh the middle school feels like they're um they've been phone free um for years. >> Yeah. Okay, >> we'll go with that. We're not >> Sorry, bud. But I see all the middle schools. That's who I drive for the Bethl. >> Yeah. To be clear, students will still be able to have access to their cell phones on the bus ride to school and after school. >> Um, we also have procedures in place for students that either arrive to school late um or leave early. Uh, for instance, um, bowling team leaves at 2:00. Um, so the coach or athletic director will have access to um, one of the magnets. students are dismissed uh so they can change, get on the bus, do what they need to do. Their pouches will be unlocked at that point for them so that they have access to it there. Okay. So, that's kind of that dismissal is essentially the end of the school days for them. >> How is it going to work on outing days? >> Yeah, excellent question. Staff had that one, too. They'll be locked up during outing days. That's still uh considered kind of the class between um you know, the the experience uh of the school day. So, Any other questions? Um, Andrew was asking this earlier when he came in. What happens if I don't follow the rules? >> Um, >> so first defense um is simply it's an office referral. Um, we're going to keep the the phone or device um in the office for the remainder of the day. We're going to call families, kind of explain what happened, uh, and ask for your support in helping us re uh, reinforce the importance of this, uh, school rule and policy, uh, and students adhering to that. Um, second offense, um, similar to the first, the office referral. this time uh students will receive an afterchool detention. However, um and they will have to check the phone in or out at the front office, uh for two weeks. So, people asked about getting in the pouch, and that's certainly um one concern if you had a super strong magnet and were able to unlock it during the day. Um, but I'm certainly aware that there'll be other students that bring two cell phones with them to school, maybe try to put one in the pouch. Yep, I'm following the rules and have another one um somewhere else. So, uh, if if students are found with that, that will be in violation of the policy and the, uh, consequences kind of kick in there. Third offense, uh, again, it'll be office referral. Most time we're going to have to have a a meeting with the parent. Uh students will have to serve another after school detention. Uh but that meeting with the parents is going to be really um set up around how are we going to support uh this student uh and following these expectations um throughout the school day um and kind of handle things individually um on a case- by case basis based on whatever the circumstances are there. um you know some of the questions that come up um what if a parent needs to reach their child? Um I encourage any parent that needs to speak with a child for any reason to call the front office uh 8027737740. Adrien or Spencer or Miriam uh will answer the phone um and have uh the ability to connect um get that student to a place where that you can have uh either pass the message along or have a phone conversation if that's needed. >> Um >> yeah, >> it's 763. >> Yeah, >> it's okay. >> My bad. >> Don't call that. You'll get uh right. >> What happens if somebody damages the case, they break the lock so that they can get in there. Um, just like any other schoolisssued property like a Chromebook, uh, ultimately you are responsible for that uh to replace these pouches costs about $30. Um, and so we could ask families to uh cover the expense of that. Um, what about students that go to Tech Center or Harford Career Center? Uh those are two different programs. Uh Randolph being all day. Um they those students they'll they'll get off their connecting bus. They'll be here in the morning. I think the bus leaves at like 8:10. Um they will have to secure their phones at the tech center following their procedures and protocols that are put in place there um to have the phones away for the remainder of the day. They'll get those back when their program ends and that is the end of their school day for them. Um, so they'll have that on the bus ride uh over here. Um, Hartford students are a little different because that's uh split up with uh kind of morning and afternoon runs. So they will follow the procedures um at White River Valley High School when they're here. Uh so morning students uh that take morning classes here at the high school would follow the same expectations that other students in the home room do. Um, and then when they get dismissed, um, kind of midday, they have to sign out at the office anyway to catch their bus and the office staff will help them unlock their pouches. They'll have it on the bus ride down to Hartford and then when they get to that program, have to secure it in the um, locks that they have down there. Um, one question that comes up, what my child needs a device for a medical reason? uh diabetes being a perfect example of monitoring uh blood sugar levels throughout the day. There are exemptions within the law to uh allow for medical necessity and and other special circumstances. Um and so those will be determined on a case-by case basis. Um will students be able to listen to music? Uh the answer is yes. Um through their Chromebooks and wired um earbuds. Um, so in addition to cell phones, any personal electronic device, smartwatches, uh, Bluetooth headphones, AirPods, uh, Beats, things like that, uh, those are also all prohibited under this law. Um, iPads, tablets, things like that. Um, if your tablet is bigger than what will fit in the pouch, I recommend you either leave it at home if you need it for some reason. Uh we'll need to secure those in the office for you and get that back at the end of the day. Um just a clarifying question. So what about um if a student has a personal laptop that they've been using in the past? >> That was the other thing I was thinking about. Yeah. Uh so uh no longer uh students have to use their uh schoolisssued uh Chromebook. Um so they can't bring in their own MacBook or personal gaming computer or other things um because that would allow them to uh bypass all this and and access those things. So thank you. >> Um what can parents do at home? uh really uh ask for your support and um and recognizing the importance of this law for um students own mental health well-being um and their ability to engage and not be distracted um during the school day. Um if you have questions, you're running into issues, challenges, please reach out to us. Um we have staff that will uh partner with you kind of uh figure out what uh what challenges you're faces facing and come up with a plan. Um and just really um trying to help folks kind of accept and move through this transition. Uh we know that transitions are tough. Um but this is something that uh is not just happening here. I said it's happening all across the state. Um there are many schools that have already um implemented these policies. Uh we spent a lot of time uh speaking and working with uh the administrative staff up at Harwood Union uh who implemented this uh a few years ago. Uh so we were able to learn from some of their experience. Um and in after the initial implementation uh students reported really appreciating it. So that's not everybody. Um but uh overall um you know the the change has been seen as as fairly positive. So um any other questions that folks might have? >> Andrew was wondering if we had a specific reason why there's no wireless earbuds being the cases themselves are selflockers. That is absolutely because of the way the law was written and what we have to follow. Um doesn't make sense to me if I had a Apple Watch that didn't have uh cell phone capability in it and my cell phone is locked in a pouch and it can't connect it because they are signal blocking. Why wouldn't you be able to use it? Um but that's how the law was written. So, um, >> so to clarify, my younger son, who's going to be a freshman this year, his Apple Watch is not actually connected to his phone. It is literally just a watch. I've never Bluetooth connected it to his phone. He can't get notifications. He used it just for his time and it's part of his dealing with his ADHD. He needs to know what time it is all the time. >> Can he still wear it even though cuz it's not connected? >> If it is, if it is a smart watch, it becomes a prohibited device. it needs to go um be secured >> one of these and >> and it and part of the reason like as frustrating as that is for me uh as well uh who wears an Apple Watch um you know it it puts staff in a position of trying to figure out which one's GPS not uh you know cell phone enabled versus not um and there's a just a lot of other things that come into uh maintaining compliance and enforcing this law uh that just become problematic. So I mean >> are staff and teachers going to have to follow the same rules and regulations? >> No. So staff faculty are exempt from uh not covered under this law. >> So go over well >> that is so not going to go well. >> That was one of the questions I was going to ask because Ken asked that question when we were driving along. Yeah. He says, "Are our staff going to be following the same rules or just us?" >> Yeah. Uh it it I'm sure that's going to be a frustration for folks. They'll see it as an injustice. Um and I've you know I understand that perspective. Uh and at the same time um you know I've I've asked staff you need to model good cell phone etiquette policy. Keep it out of uh really not using it in your classes. um unless and this is something that we have to um do quite often is uh dual dual factor authentication. So if I sign when I sign into this smartboard here on the chrome box, I need to verify that it's me by using a different device and I do that on my cell phone. So there are reasons um that a teacher might actually need that during the class. Um but absolutely if somebody is like scrolling on social media or something that would be a problem and something that we'd have to talk to to folks about. Um another uh another situation that's kind of come up uh related to that um is so students that are working on college applications, VSAC applications, things like that um they also have to do two-factor authentication and that can't be done on the Chromebook. So, um, what we'll do is, uh, that work will be done usually in the guidance office. There'll be a device there. They'll be working with staff, be able to unlock their pouch, get their phone out, um, do what they need to do under the direct supervision of, uh, of staff and and secure it back up when they're done. Um, so, >> uh, you bringing up the two factor verification and whatnot reminded me. So, I imagine I'm not the only one who has their phone or another device as the main device on their like school email. I don't know how it switched there, but it is. So, sometimes when I try to sign into it on my Chromebooks, it asks me to sign in with like a code sent to my phone. Would I be able to get my phone out for say 30 seconds to type that code in? >> That sounds like a very similar situation. Andrew, I'd want to consult with our IT folks and see if we can, you know, make some adjustments in your settings so you don't have to deal with that. But yeah, um, if you need to get that code to be able to do that, then >> but you would have to go to >> But but yeah, it would be same situation. It would be under supervision of somebody in the guidance office. >> So, this is just specifically for bellto uh sport practices and stuff. They that they can have their phones out for that and all that stuff >> as long as the coach allows it. Thank you. >> I don't allow it. I'm terrible in practice. >> They're not allowed to touch their phones. >> Okay. And then for um children who need to be exempt, like children who need it for medical devices, children who are on IEPs, um is that something that parents need to come to you with or >> like for me specifically, would I be going to the case manager or am I going to you? Yeah, those those would all be um team decisions that would be written into the U student plan. >> So that parents would have to call an IP. >> So we'd have a conversation about that. Y >> any other questions? >> I had a question about a device. Um my son's got a Kindle e-reader. It's just a paper white. So it's not a tablet. can't websites, but that's where he does all of his where he reads his book >> reading. >> Yeah. >> Um I'll need to do some uh research in that. It doesn't sound like that would fall under it, but I'm not sure. >> He just wants to be clear. >> Yeah. >> Oh, senior privileges. >> Yeah. Uh, >> so when it's blocked and whatever, like the kids who have senior privileges and have less class and whatever, that's when they go to the front office to sign out, that's when they're going to say, "Okay, I'm signed up for the day." >> They they sign out on the student sign out seat. Adrian checks in with them. Uh, make sure that they have privileges and she'll have a magnet. >> Okay. Don't >> I just wanted to make sure like he didn't leave for the day and then has to come back at the end of the day. >> A student a student that leaves for medical appointment comes in late you know we've got >> it's literally only in the building or on outing things like >> okay >> any other question? All right. Thanks folks. Uh, I do have uh again thanks to uh the Yankee Bookshop. >> Have some things to give away. So, you're going back over to Bethl using the crossover bus. Got a new driver this year. >> Yes. >> Last three numbers. Four >> 54 this one. >> Nope. >> I mean, it's yours. >> 454. >> You get You get a book and a gift card. That's a great >> cake. People win all the time. >> I think these ones are just examples. We're actually these are the real deal. >> Oh, no. I mean, like, we're not taking these home tonight. >> You're right. Um students will get them in on the first day of school. We'll go over procedures in advisory. Um they all have their name, teacher advisor, in the pouch. Um, so, um, X number 452 >> or gift card. >> And last guest card I have is 455. >> You were four. >> That's you. Go. >> Yankee Bookstore is in Woodstock. Uh we partner with them for book fairs and the elementary school and stuff. Uh great community partner. So enjoy. >> All right. Thanks for coming out tonight, folks. If uh any questions come up, don't hesitate to pick up the phone, call the school, shoot me an email, um and we'll work together to address whatever it is that's going on. >> Thanks, Shane. >> Well, thank you.