Education Committee Public Hearing Summary- March 11, 2024

SB 5– This proposed bill has a section that deals with school’s preparing for emergency responses. Some say there is an associated trauma with preparing for emergencies. However, whether it would be a natural disaster, fire, or intruder training, this is extremely important as far as I am concerned. As a parent and grandparent, I have personally always done my best to keep my children prepared for anything- unfortunately, it is the world we live in.

I believe firmly however that preparing for all different types of emergencies should be handled at the local level with decisions being made by local emergency services and those elected to handle these critical responses.

HB5417- Another bill with more hoops for local Board of Educations to jump through. The proponents of this bill have made it clear that if a certain book is removed from a library because of its content, that the board must thoroughly explain its reasoning for removal per state protocol. Books are chosen by the librarians who are unelected staff. Parents have every right to challenge those choices with their own personal concerns.

This is just another example of the state government interfering with a local board’s ability to make the decisions that is in the best interest of children.

SB14- This bill would substantially limit a child’s access to their cellular phone during school hours. If passed, this legislation would lay the framework across the state to adopt similar policies to schools like Illing Middle School in Manchester, which locks up a student’s phone when school is in session.

I strongly disagree with this overreaching policy as I believe if a parent purchases a cell phone for their child’s use, if it doesn’t directly interfere with their learning during school hours- then leave it alone. I do not think the state needs to offer guidance locally on policy.