Click image above for Haverhill School Committee agenda.
Introducing a formal policy limiting phone use, Haverhill High School Principal Michael J. Downs is set to speak Thursday night before the School Committee.
Though schools never allowed phones in classrooms, Downs told WHAV putting the approach in writing will help students understand expectations and staff lay down the law. He said he hopes, with the rule made clear on the first day of school, enforcement will go smoothly this coming year.
Haverhill School Committee Policy Subcommittee Chair Richard J. Rosa, who looked over Downs’ proposed policy with other members last week, endorsed the idea.
“Personally, I’m very happy about this because I don’t know how anyone thinks that a student could learn in the classroom if they’re spending time looking at their phone and not focusing on what their teacher is teaching them.”
Downs said he adopted much of the language from the phone-use policy at Lowell High School. Haverhill’s policy reads, “Cell phones are a distraction in the classroom, taking away from the educational process by decreasing classroom engagement, hindering student communication, negatively impacting school culture and limiting student success.”
Students place their phones either in “designated classroom container or on silent in a backpack.” They are only allowed while students walk from class to class or during lunch
If caught violating the policy, students could have their device confiscated and may be prohibited from bringing it back to school. Steeper penalties, including one-day suspension, await those students who take photos or videos “without prior permission.” Other policy violations include “inappropriate picture taking or filming, [or] harassing and bullying behavior.”
WHAV previously reported incidents involving videos posted to social media. In 2021, as the School Committee took steps to address disciplinary problems following the Pandemic, the schools determined students cannot take videos of fights. Then-Mayor James J. Fiorentini noted at the time the practice can worsen conflict. In 2022, the Committee called a special meeting after videos of a fight circulated on social media.
In another instance, two Haverhill High coaches and a senior were charged in 2022 over a hazing incident after videos of misconduct surfaced.
Downs, a U.S. Air Force veteran with 28 years of experience in education, recently finished his first year as principal. He said he has loved his first year on the job, pointing out students appreciate his “firm and fair” style as well as the “structure and discipline” he brings.
The full Committee must approve the policy before it can go into effect.