Novato schools to step up cellphone restrictions

Parents of elementary and middle school students in the Novato Unified School District will be asked this fall to pledge they will not give their children cellphones until they reach high school.

The district, which had several major instances of bullying and violent assaults in the past school year, is planning to join a movement called “Wait Until 8th” in which parents promise to withhold smartphones from students until the end of eighth grade.

“Over the summer, districtwide cellphone policies and expectations are being developed as an administrative team, using successful models from other districts,” said Tracy Smith, Novato schools superintendent. “These cellphone expectations will be shared with school communities in August as we get ready for the return to school.”

Smith said the cellphone plan is part of a sweeping review of district disciplinary policies following an assault on a Sinaloa Middle School girl by a group of other girls in late May.

The assault occurred while several hundred students, some summoned by text messages, captured the attack on cellphone videos that were posted to social media.

Eight girls were arrested in the attack. The school also banned students from using cellphones on campus.

“I applaud NUSD’s commitment to support youth mental health by taking the ‘Wait Until 8th’ pledge,” said John Carroll, the Marin County superintendent of schools. “Delaying access to smartphones, and thereby delaying access to social media, is a significant step in addressing the youth mental health crisis.”

Carroll filed a lawsuit last year against several social media companies, claiming they were contributing to an increase in youth mental health disturbances.

Although individual assault cases have occurred Novato schools in the last several years, it is the Sinaloa incident that has proved to be the ultimate wakeup call, said Julie Jacobson, president of the district board.

Novato police said at the time there was no indication of gang involvement, and no evidence that the assault was racially motivated or a hate crime. However, it was chilling for the school community nonetheless.

“While the events at Sinaloa in the spring were extremely disheartening, they have been the catalyst for important conversations that are leading to policy evaluations that support our staff and students across the district,” Jacobson said. “Focusing on behavior expectations, as well as consistent leadership and follow through, will be our path forward.”

In addition to stronger policies on cellphones and discipline, student safety programs are also in development, Smith said.

“Across school sites, we will also be establishing clear rules for student conduct, staff responses and design strategies to promote a positive, supportive and collaborative school climate,” Smith said. “We look forward to sharing these with the community before the start of the school year.”