PEMBROKE - June 16, 2026 - The Pembroke School Committee advanced sweeping updates to its district-wide student handbooks, headlined by a strict new classroom cell phone policy at Pembroke High School. The policy, which passed its first reading in a 3-1 vote, will mandate that high school students place their mobile devices in designated classroom caddies during all instructional periods and study halls. The decision sparked debate among committee members regarding the balance between structural enforcement and student autonomy during non-instructional blocks.
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The primary focus of the June 16 session centered on the first reading of the 2026–2027 student handbooks across all three academic levels. While the elementary and middle school handbook adjustments focused largely on standard administrative alignments—such as formalizing a 3.5-hour requirement to be marked present for a full school day and minor structural updates—the high school handbook introduced comprehensive changes to student conduct and daily routines.
Under the newly proposed high school guidelines, students must surrender their cell phones to a classroom caddy upon entry. While passing time in hallways and lunch periods remain exempt, the restriction explicitly extends to study halls. Committee Member Susan Bollinger voiced concerns over the all-or-nothing nature of the classroom restriction, advocating for leniency during unassigned study periods to allow students a mental break or a direct line to parents. However, Superintendent Erin Obey and other committee members emphasized the necessity of minimizing administrative grey areas, citing that consistent expectations prevent structural friction and safeguard state-mandated “time on learning” metrics.
“The idea of a study hall is to allow you additional time to work on your schoolwork. On your cell phone is not considered time on learning, so the way it was proposed was that this would be the same expectation when you enter all classrooms at Pembroke High School.” — Superintendent Erin Obey
