By Chris Barber
Contributing Writer

Kennett Consolidated School District Board Policy Committee chairman Ethan Cramer objected to seeking community input on cell phone usage by students in school, saying the public does not understand all the legal ramifications the board has to deal with.

Early in the Sept. 9 meeting, Technology Director Dan Maguire presented a timeline for the school board to determine how to regulate use of the cell phones.

His timeline directed a committee to seek input from stakeholders through October 2024 to the end of the calendar year.

The board or its committee would then be directed to put together a draft recommendation for approval based on public input for the April meeting. That final recommendation would be up for adoption at the June 2025 board meeting.

Responding in a lengthy objection, Cramer concluded, “This is an unworkable plan.”

He continued, “The policy decision is not one that we should be asking stakeholder groups. It comes down to the nine of us that are policy makers.”

A stakeholder is defined as anyone who is interested in or affected by the policy. This includes the public.

Cramer contended that members of the public do not understand the legalities of Weingarten rights or Loudermill hearings, and therefore their input on student cell phone use in class should be taken out of their hands.

The purpose of a Loudermill hearing provides employees an opportunity to present their side of the story before the employer makes a decision on discipline.

Weingarten Rights provide employees with a right to union representation at investigatory interviews, according to an online definition of both.

Cramer did not explain how the two concepts would have an effect on the district banning cell phones in class.

Citing as well public relations issues for his objections to the Maguire plan, Cramer said members of the public would accuse the school district of not listening to their opinions if those opinions were rejected later by the board.

At the board’s August meeting, the members unanimously approved a motion to permit cell phones in the classrooms with the condition that the decision would be reviewed on or before December.

School Board President Dave Kronenberg said at the September meeting that in the next few weeks he would be discussing the issue with board members individually.

In July, the Pennsylvania Senate passed a bill encouraging school districts to ban students’ phone use during the day.

In other business, the board unanimously approved a 32-page document which outlines student conduct. It lists in detail expectations, violations and punishments. It also lists certain actions, like trespassing on school property, that are so severe they fall into the “major” category and require contacting the police.

District CFO Mark Tracy announced that free breakfast would be a available to all students who want it.

He also said that excavation of the land parcel that houses the high school sign at the corner of South and Union streets was to begin on Wednesday. Workers began tearing down the old sign on Wednesday and digging a hole for the new sign to rest at that location.

A committee of high school students designed the new sign.

High School Principal Lorenzo DeAngelis also announced that the homecoming parade and football game will be on Oct. 4.