Board votes to eliminate obsolete technology policy, favoring live streaming for community engagement.

In this essay, we introduce media quiteracy, which we use to conceptualize and describe the valuable learning that can happen through the refusal to take up new media or the act of pausing or ceasing ...

Background: The World Health Organization’s (WHO) publication on age-friendly environments (AFEs) imagines future cities to become more age-friendly to harness the latent potential of older adults, especially those who have restricted mobility. AFE has important implications for older adults in maintaining social connections, independence, and successful aging-in-place. However, technology is notably absent in the 8 intersecting domains of AFEs that the WHO imagines improve older adult well-being, and we investigated whether technology should form a ninth domain. While mobility was severely restricted, the #covid19 pandemic provided an opportunity to test how older adults’ perceptions of their AFE changed and what role technology was playing. Objective: This study examined how life-space mobility (LSM), a concept for assessing patterns of functional mobility over time, and loneliness impacted perceived AFEs and the moderating effect of technology. It also explores whether technology should play a greater role as the ninth domain of the WHO’s imagination of the AFE of the future. Methods: In this cross-sectional quantitative observation study, data from 92 older adults aged 65-89 years were collected in England from March 2020 to June 2021 during the #covid19 pandemic. The Life-space Questionnaire, Technology Experience Questionnaire, UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) Loneliness Scale, and age-friendly environment assessment tool were used. Correlation and moderation analyses were used to investigate relationships between variables. Results: Most participants (86/92, 93%) had not left their immediate town in the previous 4 weeks before the interview. Restricted LSM was positively correlated to the age-friendly environment assessment tool, that is, rising physical isolation was linked to a better perception of AFEs; however, we discovered this result was due to the moderating impact of increased use of technology, and that restricted LSM actually had a negative effect on AFEs. Loneliness was correlated negatively with the perception of AFEs, but technology use was found to moderate the impact of loneliness. Conclusions: Pandemic-related LSM restrictions impacted perceived AFEs and loneliness negatively, but technology played a moderating role. The findings demonstrate that technology could be considered as a ninth domain in the WHO’s assessment of AFEs for older adults and that there is a need for its explicit acknowledgment.

The policy committee recommended the student device and technology-use policy (including reduced screen-time limits and opt-out options) and a facility-repurposing community-access policy to the full board; the committee also presented a human-centered draft AI policy with grade-level guardrails and student-data protections.

Board member Amy Olivo proposed a formal study of technology use and screen time in PGCPS after parent organizing and a superintendent memo that already restricted some device access; Senator Alonzo Washington endorsed the resolution and urged the board to add specific questions about hours, apps and monitoring.

Henrico presented a divisionwide digital-wellness framework setting PK–2 limits, expanding Securly classroom tools for monitoring and filtering, and placing AI at default level 0 (teacher authorization required). The plan includes rollout timelines and opt-out procedures for families.

The board approved the first reading of multiple policy updates (policy numbers listed) to align district policy with state law (Act 89); administrators noted one deliberate local wording change to avoid disciplining staff for preexisting non'work relationships with students.

The Somerset School Board reviewed Policy 5136 proposing a bell-to-bell ban on student cell phones at the high school, with tiered consequences and an educational first-offense option; the policy will return for a second reading at the next meeting.

Hudson School District initiates new policy banning personal devices during class to enhance learning.

Board discusses survey data on student screen time, sleep, and upcoming mental health initiatives.

District enforces no phone use policy during school hours for high school students.

School officials discuss enforcement challenges and specifics of new cell phone usage policy.

School Board adopts new policy restricting cell phone use during academic hours in high schools.

Administrators draft clear cell phone policy to enhance learning environment in schools.

Doctor Dugan acknowledges survey data highlighting parents' worries about emergency phone access.

Committee discusses revisions to cell phone policy and behavior management in schools.

The school board reviews and proposes updates to policy 43 18 for cell phone usage.

Board discusses revisions to key educational policies affecting students and parents.

Committee considers cell phone ban to improve students' focus and learning environment.

Board discusses new policies while highlighting improvements in student attendance and engagement.

Committee advances Senate Bill 1214 and Senate Bill 1387 for appropriations review

Board discusses technology usage data and safety protocols following Chief Eterno's input.

Students will not face suspension for carrying phones, but must use district-issued Chromebooks.

Schools implement lockers for phone storage while addressing device regulations for younger students

Parents raise alarms about disruptive behavior threatening safety on Lazar Bus 15.