The West Hartford Board of Education voted 5-2 Tuesday to approve a position statement on balanced learning and the purposeful use of technology in West Hartford Public Schools, following months of discussion over student screen time and technology use in classrooms.

By Mia Jaworski 

The West Hartford Board of Education voted along party lines Tuesday night to approve a proposed position statement regarding the use of technology in the district. Republican Board members Miriam Bleich and Ethan Goldman voted against the statement.

Bleich argued the board should take a more definitive position on technology use, including considering a bell-to-bell cellphone ban or restricting technology use for students below second grade.

The statement says West Hartford Public Schools “will establish a balance that preserves the conditions, relationships, experiences, and habits that allow students to learn and develop in age-appropriate ways” while allowing for the purposeful integration of technology to enhance students’ educational experiences to achieve the vision of a graduate.

During Tuesday’s meeting, the board changed the wording of the statement from “seeks to” to “will,” emphasizing its commitment to establishing a balanced and purposeful approach to technology.

The statement is part of a three-phase plan that will run from summer 2026 through summer 2027.

The plan will use data from stakeholder surveys, parent responses, classroom walkthroughs, network traffic, curriculum audits, and software audits to evaluate technology use throughout the district.

Assistant Superintendent Anne McKernan presented the plan and the results of its first phase, including 1,214 responses to a parent survey. The plan is intended to create a shared vision for technology use, establish a guiding perspective on technology as a tool for learning, and develop a strategic direction for future technology and screen-time policies.

The Board’s statement says the challenge for schools is “not simply the presence of technology, but the potential for unintentional, excessive, or developmentally inappropriate use to displace experiences essential to learning and healthy development.”

Bleich questioned whether the statement went far enough. She noted that it does not specifically address artificial intelligence or clarify whether the discussion of screen time applies only to school or also to students’ home use.

“What are we waiting for?” Bleich asked while questioning the board’s multi-step approach.

Board Secretary Jason Gagnon defended the process, emphasizing the importance of implementation rather than simply adopting a policy.

“Action and implementation is what matters,” Gagnon said.

Gagnon said districts can create policies without effectively following through on them. Superintendent Paul Vicinus is instead pursuing a more measured approach through the position statement and phased plan.

“Not the goal, but the process,” Gagnon said, emphasizing that the board can return to the issue with specific policies in the future. “We can come back with policy.”

Parents call for stronger action

Several parents spoke during the meeting, including members of FOCUS, a local grassroots group advocating for “Fostering Optimal Connectivity, Understanding & Safety.” The group focuses on concerns about technology use in West Hartford schools.

Sandra Hershon of West Hartford called for greater transparency from the district regarding curriculum and instructional materials.

“Parents and taxpayers should have access to the curriculum being taught in West Hartford Public Schools. Not simply a brief overview on a website,” Hershon said. “Enough information to know what is being taught, what instructional material is being used, and who approved them.”

Hershon cited fifth-grade lessons at Duffy Elementary School on revolution, resistance, and colonization, arguing that the material was not age-appropriate.

Dr. Gunjan Sharma also spoke about technology use in classrooms. Sharma referenced a recent policy at the University of Chicago Law School that bans technology, including artificial intelligence, in first-year courses and relies on paper-based coursework.

“West Hartford Public Schools must prepare their children for college,” Sharma said. “Can a WHPS graduate take handwritten notes for a 90-minute lecture?”

“If students must be taught technology, it must be a class called technology, not used in every class,” Sharma said.

Sharma also referenced a teacher who asked her child to download the entire Google suite onto the child’s cellphone.

Stefani Corsi-Travali raised concerns about technology use in elementary school. She pointed to her second-grade daughter’s homework folder, which included a large QR code allowing the student to access math homework online.

“No seven-year-old needs to be doing math problems on a computer, in preparation for college, or the workforce, more than 10 years down the road,” Corsi-Travali said.

Corsi-Travali compared her daughter’s online math assignments with a recent prerequisite chemistry course she took for a second degree in health care. She said the college course did not use Blackboard or other technology and instead required students to submit printed documents showing their thinking and calculations.

Corsi-Travali also raised concerns about FunHub, an online math game used by her daughter’s class. She said the program records students’ names, test scores and voices, which she characterized as sensitive biometric information.

“I don’t recall giving consent to this,” Corsi-Travali said. “I wonder if other parents even know this is happening.”

The board also reiterated that communication with students during school hours should be directed through the school office rather than through a student’s personal device.

Students weigh in

The board also asked student representatives Luke Kalke of Conard High School and Savannah Singh of Hall High School for their perspectives on technology regulations.

“Balance is important,” Kalke said. “There’s a self-responsibility, you have to know we come to learn.”

Singh similarly emphasized student responsibility while noting the acceptance of Hall’s phone-away program among students and staff.

The board plans to create a new section of the West Hartford Public Schools website detailing its efforts and events related to re-envisioning student technology use.

The technology discussion follows several months of debate.

On June 2, the board announced it would draft a resolution on screen use over the summer for consideration at its first meeting of the school year. On Aug. 5, the Connecticut State Board of Education recommended bell-to-bell cellphone restrictions in every district. On Sept. 1, the West Hartford board did not vote on a resolution, and the board chair instead read a draft position statement aloud.

Students and school updates

Kalke and Singh also provided updates from Conard and Hall high schools.

Kalke discussed Conard’s “All Paws In” pep rally and conversations between students and teacher Jocelyn Tamborello-Noble about the school’s new block schedule.

Conard’s fall homecoming is scheduled for Oct. 24 at the Conard Cafe from 7 to 9:30 p.m. The event will include a DJ, refreshments and photo booths and will have a dress-to-impress theme. Conard will also administer the PSAT on Oct. 20 to students in grades nine through 11.

Singh reported on Hall’s freshman bingo hosted by Link Crew, a recent custodial staff celebration and progress on the school’s track, which is expected to be completed within the next week.

Hall also announced its fall musical, “Alice by Heart,” and a partnership with the West Hartford Police Department to launch a police cadet program. Hall will also hold it’s picture day Oct. 26 and 27.

Hall’s homecoming will be held at West Hartford Town Hall on Nov. 14. The PSAT will also be administered Oct. 20 to students in grades nine through 11.

Other upcoming district events include a movie night at Morley Elementary School on Nov. 13 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and a Lunch and Learn event, with potato listed as the next topic.

The West Hartford Board of Education’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m. in the Legislative Chamber, Room 314, at Town Hall, 50 South Main St.

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