Three parents raised concerns about classroom technology policy at the Wyckoff K-8 Board of Education's Sept. 14 meeting, including one account of a gap between what district administrators discussed over the summer and what happened once school started.

Abby Kalter, of Albemarle Street — a repeat commenter on the district's technology use — said she met with district administrators over the summer to talk through what a technology policy might look like, including limits on one-to-one devices for younger grades. "I came here tonight really hopeful because the agenda does mention, you know, balanced technology and integration, and that's like a catchphrase we're hearing a lot of," she said.[1] "We even discussed limiting one-on-one devices for the younger grades. I was extremely disheartened to know that within the first week of school, six-year-olds were receiving Chromebooks."[2]

Kalter also raised a data question about iReady, the district's adaptive learning platform. "I can't understand why a first grader, second grader, or third grader are even receiving iReady My Path lessons," she said. "They are by their own data useless, and by the fourth and fifth graders just kind of okay."[3]

Catiana Valik, of Mason Avenue, focused on a new middle school period called "exploratory extension," which runs every other day. "My understanding is that now that there's an additional period... there's no curriculum attached to it, so I wasn't able to find what the curriculum is," she said.[4] Valik said she wants classroom time reserved for what a classroom uniquely provides. "The limited time students spend in our classrooms should be used for things that only a classroom can really provide," she said — interaction with teachers and peers, not the independent screen-based lessons her daughter could do at home instead. "She could do that at home," Valik said. "Her homework could be to get her My Path lesson done at home."[5][6]

Laura Dechon, of Smith Place — who also raised the "Reclaiming the Classroom" petition at the board's June 8 meeting — said she was speaking in support of Wyckoff Balance and the petition, which she said has circulated since spring and reflected concerns from more than 800 community members.[7] "We have not seen visible progress so far, even on some of the smaller steps that could have been implemented more quickly," she said.[8] "Technology is moving very quickly and our district is falling behind."[9]

The public comment followed a report earlier in the meeting in which Assistant Superintendent Rob Famularo told the board the district was "renewing its commitment to balance technology for all grade levels" this year.[10]

Superintendent Kerry Postma acknowledged the public comment before the board moved on. "We will be taking into consideration the additional feedback," she said, adding that the district would address it in upcoming administrative meetings and its next communication to parents.[11]