Legislature(2025 - 2026)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/12/2025 03:30 PM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB18 | |
| SB6 | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s) | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 18 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 69 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 6 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 18-COMMUNICATION DEVICES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
3:33:04 PM
CHAIR TOBIN announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 18
"An Act relating to wireless telecommunications devices in
public schools; and providing for an effective date."
3:33:23 PM
SENATOR BILL WIELECHOWSKI, District K, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 18, introduced Mr. Seater his
mentee, and briefly shared how he came to sponsor SB 18. He
admitted to initial hesitation but was persuaded after hearing
positive reports of improved student discipline from a principal
who initiated a no cell phone policy.
3:35:22 PM
DERSU SEATER, Mentee, Senator Bill Wielechowski, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, introduced SB 18 and explained that
SB 18 requires the Alaska Department of Education and Early
Development to create a model policy prohibiting non-school-
issued wireless devices in schools. School districts must adopt
either this model or a comparable policy, and must have
emergency exemptions. He described cell phone misuse as a
growing epidemic harming students' mental health and academic
outcomes. Referring to studies and personal experiences, he said
unrestricted phone use leads to distraction, reduced engagement,
and diminished learning, contrasting environments at East High
and Winterberry Charter School.
3:39:00 PM
MS. SEATER argued that loose cell phone policies normalize
disengagement, while structured restrictions promote
accountability and improved performance. He addressed school
safety concerns, citing expert opinion that phones create risks
during emergencies. He concluded by urging the committee to
support SB 18, emphasizing its flexibility, community control,
and broad teacher support.
3:41:01 PM
SENATOR STEVENS said there is strong support in Alaska for local
control of school districts. He asked whether SB 18 offers
options for districts or if the bill eliminates cell phone use
in schools entirely.
3:41:34 PM
MR. SEATER replied that SB 18 allows some flexibility for school
districts. He stated that districts must prohibit the use or
possession of cell phones during class hours, lunch, and passing
periods. He clarified that the method of enforcement is left to
each district's discretion.
3:42:23 PM
CHAIR TOBIN noted that SB 18, page 2, includes exemptions for
wireless communication during emergencies but does not mention
medical use. She asked for clarification on why the bill does
not provide an exemption for individuals using a cellular device
for medical purposes.
3:42:42 PM
MR. SEATER stated that under the current version of the SB 18,
"emergency purposes" includes medical emergencies or the
prevention of such emergencies, such as using a glucose monitor.
He added that if the committee wants to clarify this further,
the sponsors are open to amending the bill to explicitly
reference medical emergencies or medical needs.
3:43:32 PM
CHAIR TOBIN asked how SB 18 might affect students in specialized
programs who need to use personal devices during school hours.
She expressed concern that the policy could hinder students in
academic programs who rely on unrestricted internet access for
learning.
3:44:13 PM
MR. SEATER replied that since SB 18 leaves many details to local
school districts, students could bring concerns to their local
school boards. He stated that districts might choose to create
exemptions or adjust policies to accommodate student needs.
3:44:47 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI stated that another bill is moving through
the legislature that allows more flexibility for local school
districts, while SB 18 is more prescriptive. He explained that
SB 18 would strictly prohibit the use of non-school-issued
wireless telecommunication devices, whereas the other bill would
require school districts or the Department of Education to
regulate the use of the device. He said the sponsors would not
object if the committee decided to revise SB 18 to allow more
local control.
CHAIR TOBIN asked whether SB 18 would also prohibit the use of
other types of personal wireless telecommunication devices, such
as gaming devices like the Nintendo Switch.
3:46:05 PM
MR. SEATER replied that, as a student, he has not seen anyone
bring a Nintendo Switch or similar gaming device to school. He
stated that the current definition of wireless telecommunication
devices likely does not include those types of gaming devices.
He added that the definition could be amended if the committee
wishes to address that.
CHAIR TOBIN stated that, according to some students, the issue
is not cell phones but unengaging classes and large class sizes
that reduce education quality. She said students have expressed
a preference for distractions due to these conditions. She noted
that students have called for an increase in the Base Student
Allocation (BSA) to improve class sizes and instruction quality
instead of banning cell phones. She asked for thoughts on that
perspective.
3:47:19 PM
MR. SEATER said that addressing student disengagement requires a
two-sided approach. He expressed support for increasing the Base
Student Allocation but noted, from personal experience, that
even in small classes, such as his AP Spanish class with 10 to
15 students, about half the students are on their phones
throughout the period. He stated that the teacher is exhausted
from managing phone use alone. He suggested that this policy
would give teachers a clear mandate from the state, reducing the
burden on them and avoiding confrontational enforcement.
3:48:05 PM
SENATOR KIEHL joined the meeting.
3:48:27 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI said he supports increasing the Base
Student Allocation and reducing class sizes. However, he stated
that cell phones remain a widespread issue, even in smaller
classes, as noted by Mr. Seater. He emphasized that removing the
burden of enforcement from teachers and establishing a clear
state policy would be beneficial, adding that teachers could
"blame" the legislature for the rule. He said SB 18 aims to keep
phones out of classrooms during instructional time, while
allowing flexibility for districts to permit use during lunch,
breaks, and educational need.
3:49:25 PM
SENATOR STEVENS expressed support for SB 18 and acknowledged the
classroom disruption caused by cell phone use. He asked to
further explore the medical exemption issue. He gave the example
of a glucose monitor, which requires immediate attention, and
questioned whether there are other medical devices or
conditions, such as heart monitors, that should be considered.
He clarified that this would not mean allowing unrestricted
phone use but asked if there are additional medical needs SB 18
should address.
3:50:13 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI noted that this was the first Senate
hearing on SB 18 and acknowledged that the House conducted
several hearings and did good work on the issue. He explained
that the House version includes a regulatory approach rather
than a strict prohibition and includes model policy language
requiring exceptions for medical and translation purposes. He
emphasized that translation is particularly important in diverse
schools, such as East Anchorage High, where students speak up to
95 different languages. He said the House policy also allows use
in emergencies or when a teacher or administrator grants
permission for educational purposes. He supported clarifying
that medical use, including non-emergency situations like
glucose monitoring, should be allowed and stated he supports
giving districts more local control.
3:51:41 PM
CHAIR TOBIN said the committee would now discuss the fiscal note
for SB 18.
3:52:16 PM
DEBORAH RIDDLE, Division Operations Manager, Innovation and
Education Excellence Division, Department of Education and Early
Development, Juneau, Alaska, provided a review of the fiscal
note for SB 18, OMB component 2796, dated March 7, 2025. She
said SB 18 has a zero fiscal note, and that the department could
absorb cost associated with development of regulations, at this
time.
CHAIR TOBIN announced invited testimony for SB 18.
3:53:08 PM
MATTHEW WITTHOEFT, Principle, Begich Middle School, Anchorage,
Alaska, testified by invitation on SB 18. He expressed agreement
with Senator Wielechowski's comments and acknowledged the value
of cell phones for safety and communication, particularly when
students are away from parents, such as during travel. He noted,
however, that cell phones are a major impediment to learning and
shared personal and professional experiences illustrating the
challenges of managing device use among youth. He stated that
teachers at his school have repeatedly thanked him for relieving
them of that burden and credited early efforts and district-wide
policy language for building community and staff support.
MR. WITTHOEFT addressed concerns about blocked educational
websites, explaining that his one-to-one Chromebook school
allows IT filter adjustments when needed. He emphasized that
personal device use with unfiltered internet access and VPNs
presents far greater risks than the limited benefit of accessing
niche educational content. He concluded by referencing broader
issues such as teen mental health and school safety, stating
that restricting phone use has been one of the easiest and most
effective decisions he has made as a first-year principal.
3:56:24 PM
DORA WILSON, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, testified by
invitation on SB 18 stating that she has lived, worked, and
raised her children in Alaska. She has served as a therapeutic
foster parent for 21 years, caring for over 50 youth. She also
serves on the Anchorage School Board and shared that on March 4,
the board unanimously passed a detailed policy on student
possession and use of electronic communication devices,
including cell phones. She credited Anchorage principals and
educators for initiating the policy, which aims to improve
academic outcomes and student mental health.
MS. WILSON expressed support for district-level flexibility in
implementing such policies, recognizing that needs vary across
Alaska. Drawing from her experience as a parent and foster
parent, she emphasized that electronic devices, particularly
social media, can be harmful to youth mental health if not
properly monitored. She described the development of a school-
day phone use policy as a positive step to support educators and
students and thanked Senator Wielechowski for his work
supporting education and youth in Alaska.
3:59:44 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN asked Mr. Witthoeft whether, before
implementing a ban on cell phone use, the school had a more
flexible policy that allowed teachers to enforce rules
individually, and if so, how effective that approach had been.
MR. WITTHOEFT replied that the school previously used a flexible
system where classrooms displayed signsred for no phone use and
green for allowed use. However, after the pandemic, the number
of students with phones increased significantly, and teachers
were frequently forced to address phone distractions. He noted
that larger class sizes compounded the issue. Inconsistent
enforcement among teachers led to student complaints about
varying rules. As a result, the administration determined a
schoolwide policy was necessary for consistency and
effectiveness.
4:02:04 PM
CHAIR TOBIN opened public testimony on SB 18.
4:02:28 PM
SALLY DONALDSON, School Counselor, Juneau, Alaska, testified in
support of SB 18 and said she has worked in schools for 20
years. She shared an experience from 12 years ago when she
witnessed a teacher returning a box of cell phones to students
following a statewide test, noting one student claimed three
phones. She used this to illustrate that cell phones have long
been a significant issue in schools. She supported restricting
cell phones in Alaska schools for several reasons: cell phones
cause distraction even when not in use; managing phones adds
unnecessary responsibility to teachers; and students interact
more meaningfully with each other when phones are absent. MS. D
concluded by urging the committee to consider moving the bill
forward.
4:05:27 PM
MOREAN HALL, representing self, Juneau, Alaska, testified in
support of SB 18. She said she is a retired school nurse from
Juneau and current assembly member. She highlighted bullying as
a major concern, noting that students now arrange fights during
school hours, record them, and post them online, creating
additional trauma and challenges for school staff and families.
She stated that students with medical needs or Individualized
Education Programs (IEPs) could be exempted through
accommodations, including Section 504 plans. On the use of
translation apps, she advised consulting English as a Second
Language teachers, noting that tools like Google Translate may
hinder language learning. She emphasized the growing importance
of focus in education, quoting author Cal Newport and warning
that many students reach college without having read a full
book. She urged support for SB 18, calling it a low-cost but
high-impact step, while recommending some flexibility for local
control.
4:07:41 PM
SENATOR KIEHL asked whether Ms. Hall was speaking for herself or
an elected official.
MS. HALL replied she was representing herself.
4:08:11 PM
ALLISON CURRY, representing self, Juneau, Alaska, testified in
support of SB 18. She said she is a middle school teacher at
Ryan Middle School in Fairbanks and shared her perspective on
the impact of cell phones in schools, particularly with sixth
graders. She emphasized that her students, born around 2012,
have grown up in a world saturated with constant notifications,
filters, and cameras. She noted however, that all students may
not own a cell phone. She argued that public schools serve as a
great equalizer and should be a refuge from digital pressurea
place where students are free from surveillance, social media,
and distractions.
MS. CURRY highlighted the amount of instructional time lost to
managing devices and stressed the importance of creating a
school environment where students feel safe from being recorded
or exposed without consent. She recounted an incident involving
a nearby high school lockdown, where misinformation spread via
student cell phones caused chaos, leading to a flood of parents
surrounding the school and blocking access for emergency
services. She urged support for SB 18, stressing the powerful
impact such a policy could have in creating a safer, more
focused learning environment.
4:12:11 PM
CHAIR TOBIN closed public testimony on SB 18.
4:12:24 PM
CHAIR TOBIN held SB 18 in committee.