St. Charles school district seeks volunteers for cellphone committee

St. Charles Unit District 303 is taking applications from anyone interested in serving on an advisory group that will study cellphone use in schools.

District 303 Superintendent Paul Gordon announced in July he would form the committee as the district looks to move toward cell-free classrooms for the 2025-26 school year.

Gordon said he is heartened by the amount of interest in the group since it was first announced.

“It is vital that our group consists of individuals with unique perspectives on this topic to best inform our decision-making,” he said in a news release.

The committee will have 30 members, including District 303 staff, students, parents, administrators and community members. According to the district, the panel will work as a “broader community voice and respond to the work, questions and procedures developed by a smaller project team.”

Advisory group members must complete two readings, including “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Health” and the U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on social media and youth mental health. Committee members also should plan on attending four meetings during the fall semester.

Applications to serve on the committee are due by noon on Aug. 30. Applicants must fill out a Google Docs form and include a brief explanation of why they want to serve on the group. Applicants will be notified if they’ve been selected for the committee by Sept. 9.

The district also plans to survey community members later this semester about cellphone use in schools. The results of the survey will be made public and reviewed by the advisory group.

To learn more about the advisory group, visit the district’s website at district.d303.org.