SEND TO
D97 Administrators:
Patrick Robinson, interim co-superintendent probinson@op97.org
Dr. Griff Powell, interim co-superintendent gpowell@op97.org
Michele Capio, director of student wellness mcapio@op97.org
Will Brackett, director of technology wbrackett@op97.org
D97 School Board:
Cheree Moore, president cmoore1@op97.org
Jung Kim, vice president jkim@op97.org
Venus Hurd Johnson, vice president vhurdjohnson@op97.org
Nancy Ross Dribin nrossdribin@op97.org
Gavin Kearney gkearney@op97.org
Becky Perez bperez1@op97.org
Holly Spurlock hspurlock@op97.org
Dear NAME HERE,
I am the parent of [your child’s name] at [school name], and I am very concerned about the harm caused by the failure of the District to update or enforce its own tech policies. D97’s Acceptable Use policy states: “All use of the District’s electronic networks must be: (1) in support of education and/or research, and be in furtherance of the goals stated herein, or (2) for a legitimate school business purpose. Use is a privilege, not a right.” This policy has been largely ignored and unevenly enforced, and students have been able to watch videos, play online games, and spend far too much time using their school-issued devices for non-educational purposes.
Growing evidence has shown the harms to brain development and behavior by allowing children to spend too much time on digital devices. As parents, the responsibility of teaching our children healthy digital habits rests on us. However, since children spend 6-7 hours per day at school and the school issues them electronic devices, developing healthy tech habits must also be a focus in every D97 classroom as well. It is essential that we implement best practices for tech usage, not only at home, but also at school.
We began issuing iPads to kindergarteners in 2020, and screen overuse and misuse has gotten out of control since then, yet parents and teachers are not given adequate training, guidelines or even basic up-to-date information for using these devices safely and sparingly. The D97 website contains very out-of-date iLearn 97 information (from circa 2013?) that indicates parents used to have to attend an orientation prior to taking home a device. The current iLearn Device Handbook is also very out of date; while it has lots of information on basic device use and a lot of information about damage/loss/replacement, there is nothing related to parental controls, screen/cyber safety, or resources for parents to use (ScreenSense.org, Common Sense Media, etc).
The School Board and Administration must create, communicate and implement clear policies to promote best practices for technology use. Following such policies will allow our children to develop sustained, focused attention spans and limit the harmful effects of too much technology use. I request District 97 provide more robust guidance around tech usage to teachers, students and families that implement the following policies and procedures:
use iPads, Chromebooks, and apps solely for educational/curricular objectives (not just in policy, but in practice)
set and adhere to daily screen-time limits for each course subject according to grade/age, including eliminating iPads for K-2
prioritize pen and paper-based work over digital curricular work, as well as other forms of tactile real world learning
implement a screen-free free-time policy (as well as screen-free indoor recess, and avoiding use of screen time as reward)
refrain from allowing non-curricular apps (like Prodigy and Epic) or “educational” games like Gimkit
utilize a lab-based model for tech devices in which devices are stored away in a designated area and are only accessed by students during specified curricular times for specific tasks. Students should not have open access to devices
watching non-educational movies or videos in the classroom should be a rare group activity reserved for special occasions (not on personal devices)
teachers are required to share a clear tech-usage policy with students so they know how to stay on task and what apps, platforms and programs are permitted when using their devices for classroom schoolwork (and which ones aren’t)
keep school-issued devices in the classroom unless parents request for devices to be brought home
create policies that support teachers/schools with bell-to-bell bans on personal device use, now problematic even in elementary years
communicate expectations and policies more clearly with parents, and share with them how to use resources to help monitor student tech usage (like Securly or iPad settings) and promote transparency in how much screen time is allowed per subject per day in D97 classrooms
offer parent trainings and resources, and keep tech related information up-to-date on D97 website
implement curriculum to promote skills for healthy tech use habits
consider an opt-in model, so that the default option is that D97 devices do not go home with students
We parents no longer want to see hours of screen time as a primary means of learning and recreation each school day. We no longer want to see children huddled around screens during recess or free time. We no longer want to see our children exiting the school building with their faces glued to a screen. We respectfully insist that the District implement its own Acceptable Use policy to use digital devices solely for educational purposes and implement best practices to promote the skills required for promoting students’ digital health.
Respectfully,
[your name]