The Washoe County School District Board of Trustees met on Tuesday to discuss many important topics, among them students and screen time.
Parents who spoke during public comment shared their concerns about their kids having too much screen time while in school, especially kids in elementary school.
They said kids learn vital motor skills through physical interaction rather than through a screen.
One parent said, “There's clear evidence that children learn better from teachers, and with physical manipulatives or pen and paper than with EdTech. These technologies were put in place out of an assumption that they would help the learning process, but we're asking you to take a little bit of a more critical look at the technology examined. Has it actually helped learning? Has it harmed learning?”
Parents shared that it seems as if, after COVID, schools have been leaning more towards using technology as a source for education.
They say it might have been needed during that time, but it's time to move past that instead of adding more.
Another parent who spoke said, "I do understand that it's 2026. We do at some point have to learn how to navigate technology, but is our intention to teach these kids how to navigate a device in kinder and first grade, or is it to teach them reading and math? I think we need to isolate the goal."
A common concern that was shared was the lack of art and P.E. classes in elementary schools.
Parents said they don't think it's right to have their kids in a school district that doesn't prioritize outdoor play.
They said their kids come home saying that they didn't get to have recess because they needed to stay inside to finish work on their tablet.
Another parent said, “The Nevada School Wellness Policy, which states that all children must receive at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day, and bars holding recess as punishment.”
Some even voiced specific things they want to see implemented in their kids' school.
A parent said, "A minimum of 45 minutes of productive daily recess. I would love to see more, and never withheld for academics, for discipline. Published by grade, how many minutes a day our kids are spending in front of a screen? Including the passive time and capped screen minutes period. Not just from the early grades, but in all the grades."
The Board of Trustees said that they will be researching exactly how much screen time students have daily and determining if it has been beneficial or if changes need to be made.
