Redwood High School's student newspaper is pushing back against the Tamalpais Union High School District's growing list of technology restrictions, calling them a threat to students' digital readiness.

The Redwood Bark editorial board argued Tuesday, Sept. 15 that the district's personal laptop ban, its new phone-free policy and the disbanding of a teacher-led artificial intelligence task force amount to a pattern: keeping students away from the tools they will need after graduation.

"After high school, there is no NuKase to lock up our phones or teachers to confiscate our laptops," the editorial stated. "… By having our access to real-world technological resources restricted, we aren't given the chance to develop accountability and agency skills regarding them …"

The editorial cited a September 2025 Bark survey in which 53% of students said they strongly disliked the district's policy blocking personal devices from school Wi-Fi. It also argued the restrictions may conflict with California Education Code Section 60119, which requires adequate instructional materials for every student. That legal claim is the editorial board's interpretation, not a court or agency finding.

Phone ban and NuKase cases

The TUHSD Board of Trustees voted 3-2 on April 14 to approve a phone-free plan for the 2026-27 school year under Superintendent Dr. Courtney Goode's recommendation. Trustees Jennifer Holden, Kevin Saavedra and Cynthia Roenisch voted in favor. Trustees Ida Green and Emily Uhlhorn voted against.

On May 5, the board voted 3-2 again to spend $112,905.85 on NuKase lockable phone cases from the general fund. Green and Uhlhorn again dissented.

Under the policy, students cannot use devices from the start to the end of the school day, including lunch and breaks.

The district's 2026-27 parent/student handbook describes mobile communication devices on campus as harmful to students' social-emotional health.

Not everyone sees the restrictions as a problem. The Tam High Foundation reported Wednesday, Sept. 16 that the phone-free policy is already showing results, with "more face-to-face connection happening around campus."

AI task force disbanded

The editorial also questioned the district's decision to disband a teacher-led AI task force. The task force was created in early 2026 to improve AI literacy among staff but was shut down by the end of the school year after board members argued AI in the classroom made learning "more shallow," according to the Bark.

The district has since added a formal AI policy to its 2026-27 handbook. The full text of that policy was not available for review.

Board candidates weigh in

Technology policy is surfacing in the Nov. 3 board election, where three trustee seats are on the ballot. At the Marin Women's Political Action Committee (MWPAC) endorsement night Sept. 9-10, Board President Roenisch defended the device ban.

"The idea behind [banning personal devices] was to improve learning and social connection by giving [students] seven hours where phones aren't even temptations," Roenisch said at the candidate forum, as reported by the Redwood Bark. "Nothing is going to work 100%, especially with teenagers. But if it's 70%, I think it's an outstanding success."

Candidate Brian Sutherland took a different view on AI at the same event. He said the district's current AI policy is not adequate and called for classes that teach students "how it works and where their data is going."

MWPAC endorsed candidates Joy Koo and Valerie Wynn. All three non-incumbent candidates received endorsements from the Tamalpais Federation of Teachers on Aug. 31.

The next regular TUHSD board meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 6 p.m. in the Kreps Conference Center on the Redwood High School campus in Larkspur.