PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Superintendent Joseph Curtis would like to see the district's cell phone policy tightened up after more than 6,000 violations were accrued during the last school year.

"I think that we do need to do a hard examination of that," he told the School Committee on Monday. "I think that we are in our first year making every attempt to give every student the benefit of the doubt, and family."

This could mean locked cell phone cases — Yondr cases — for middle and high school students or increased regulations.  

A three-tiered response plan was approved about a year ago though the superintendent feels that it might be time to review it and lessen the number of warnings students are given "because we are clear about the expectation that cell phones not be used during instruction."

Having regulations that, in some cases, allow a student 10 attempts at using phones during prohibited times is not only sending the wrong message to students and families but is hard to keep track of, Curtis said.

Because of this, he wants to have a discussion with school leaders about reviewing and tightening the regulations. It has been referred to the subcommittee on social and emotional learning.

Data collected over the 2023-2024 school year showed a total of 6,358 districtwide referrals entered into the office discipline system. Reid Middle School had the highest number of violations, more than 2,200, Pittsfield High School had over 1,800, and Taconic High School had over 1,200.

Herberg Middle School had just more than 900 violations entered into the system.