Wayland School Committee approves new cell phone policy across all grades

WAYLAND — May 28, 2025 — Wayland School Committee unanimously adopts a tiered cell phone policy with Yonder pouches coming to the middle school. The 3-0 vote, with member Erin Mueller absent, locks in classroom "phone trees" in all high school learning spaces — classrooms, library, study halls, advisory and the academic support center — while leaving elementary practice unchanged. Assistant Superintendent Betsy Avron said consistency, not policy, is the hurdle, calling phone-free learning "a big lift." Member Betsy Cullen pushed for stronger conviction, warning the district's wellness investments and lax phone enforcement were "on a collision course with each other." High school consequences escalate from confiscation for the class block to a parent pickup on third offense. The policy heads out for a 30-day comment period. The board also heard that sports broadcasting enrollment jumped to 41 from 27 and that Project Adventure needs $120,000 to rebuild.