SWAMPSCOTT — A statewide push to limit cellphone use in schools could soon force changes to student technology policies in Swampscott, School Committee members said Thursday night. 

Members stressed that the district is not driving policy changes, but noted that both the Massachusetts House and Senate have advanced proposals that would require public schools to adopt stricter limitations on student cellphone use during the school day. 

Miguel Contreras, who was elected vice chair of the School Committee at Thursday’s meeting, led the discussion, which included several policy updates passed down to the district from the state level. 

In addition to discussing the cellphone legislation, Committee members conducted a first reading of several policy revisions involving building access, special education parent advisory councils, medication administration procedures, school choice enrollment, bus driver requirements, and policies governing student restraint and seclusion. Most of the updates were recommended through the Massachusetts Association of School Committees to align local policies with changes in state law and regulations.

“This one is more [of] a discussion item, and also for our parents to be aware,” Contreras said, noting that the device-related policy was a topic for future consideration rather than an active change in district operations. “We may be seeing that we would need to update our policy in the future to accommodate these new changes.”

The House approved its version of the legislation in April. Like an earlier Senate proposal, it would require school districts to adopt policies limiting student access to personal electronic devices during the school day, described as a “bell-to-bell” restriction. Drafts of the legislation call for phones to be stored securely or otherwise rendered unusable during school hours, while allowing exceptions for medical needs, disabilities, language-access needs, and other approved circumstances. 

“There is language in there to allow accommodations and exceptions as necessary,” Contreras said. “We are not trying to block anybody from their devices. It is more trying to put guidelines around their usage.” 

While both the House and Senate have endorsed restricting student device use during the school day, the two versions of the legislation differ: the House version combines cellphone restrictions with a broader policy to limit children’s social media use. House and Senate lawmakers must now reconcile those differences and vote on a single cohesive policy before sending it to Gov. Maura Healey for signature. 

School Committee members said many of the concepts being debated by state lawmakers already exist in some form within the district. According to Superintendent Jason Calichman, students are generally not permitted to use cellphones during the school day, though high school students are currently allowed to access personal devices while eating lunch in the cafeteria.

While the district already places limits on personal devices, Committee members noted that a statewide mandate could require additional enforcement measures. Depending on the final language adopted by lawmakers, districts could be required to provide secure storage for phones or use systems designed to make devices inaccessible during the school day.

School Committee Chair Glenn Paster said those requirements could carry a financial impact for districts. 

“I’m sure we’ll have to spend some budget dollars to buy whatever they tell us to buy,” he said. 

Paster also noted that the issue has generated strong opinions among parents, educators, and students throughout the state. 

“We had talked about this probably close to two years before I came to the chair, and people have some very strong views on it,” he acknowledged. 

Rather than debating the merits of a cellphone ban, Committee members repeatedly emphasized that the decision now rests with lawmakers on Beacon Hill.

“I would ask for everyone to just mull on it a bit and for anyone in the public to talk to your state representative if you have strong feelings about this, as we will have to comply with whatever they give us,” Contreras said.

Paster echoed that message, saying the committee would monitor the legislation and prepare to comply with whatever requirements are ultimately adopted.

“As Miguel said, we implore the public to please, if you agree, disagree, have an opinion, call your local reps in the House and Senate because this is coming, and a change is coming,” Paster said.