While local educational leaders celebrated an unprecedented million-dollar gift to our schools, a growing coalition of parents stepped up to the microphone with a plea to reclaim their children’s attention from the grip of digital screens.
Kristen Swift, a veteran district parent who has navigated the local school system for 11 years, returned to the microphone with the wisdom of hindsight. Now the mother of a senior, she recalled her older son’s disappointment when middle school lunches shifted from lively conversation to silent kids staring at “Brawl Stars” on their smartphones.
Her story echoed throughout the boardroom during the August 11 South Pasadena Unified School District (SPUSD) Board of Education meeting. Parents, educators, and community members gathered not just to debate the digital future of local classrooms, but to celebrate historic funding milestones as the new academic year begins.
The Push for a Digital Detox in Classrooms
Swift was not alone in her concerns regarding technology. A newly formed, parent-led coalition known as “Touchgrass South Pass”—an official local affiliate of the national Schools Beyond Screens movement—dominated the evening’s public comment period.
Madison Norris, a district parent speaking on behalf of the coalition, clarified the group’s stance: they are not an anti-technology movement, but they want the district to re-examine its reliance on screens. Norris cited peer-reviewed research linking screen overuse to fragmented attention, social disconnection, declines in executive function, and rising anxiety among students.
The grassroots coalition outlined specific demands for the district, including:
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Implementing a true bell-to-bell phone ban at the high school that includes passing periods and lunch.
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Ensuring no screen-based learning occurs from TK through second grade.
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Restricting student access to YouTube, chatbots, and video games across all school devices.
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Moving school communications—like ASB and athletics updates—away from social media platforms like Instagram.
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Phasing out one-to-one Chromebooks and bringing back computer labs and rolling carts.
Sophie Ellsberg, parent of an Arroyo Vista first grader, voiced alarm over the normalization of tech use in post-COVID classrooms. She shared harrowing local anecdotes from last year, including younger students inadvertently being exposed to explicit content and a 10-year-old hacking a school-issued laptop so peers could play Call of Duty.
Mike Brennan, an LAUSD seventh-grade history teacher and father of two students in the district, also expressed his support for Touchgrass South Pass. He noted that as an educator, he does not expect phones to be in his classroom, nor does he expect his seventh-grade daughter to have access to one during the school day.
A Million Dollar Milestone for South Pasadena
Before the screen time debate took center stage, the evening featured a moment of historic local philanthropy. The South Pasadena Educational Foundation (SPEF) presented its annual donation to the district, breaking the million-dollar mark for the very first time.
Board President Dr. Kipke praised the achievement, noting that the board had set this ambitious funding goal just a year ago. The board extended deep gratitude to SPEF leadership, specifically acknowledging Rob for his dedicated vision and the community’s collective effort to secure the funds for our students.
New Student Voices and State Budget Boosts
The board also enthusiastically welcomed Batia Lu, a senior at South Pasadena High School, as the new student board member. Lu shared her reflections on the district’s mission, highlighting a recent ASB freshman orientation that successfully introduced over 350 new students to the campus setting and culture.
Financially, the district received positive news during a 45-day budget revision presentation by Mr. Luce. Several significant funding items that were not originally included in the district’s June budget are now expected from the state.
These financial additions include:
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An ongoing $17 million state special education funding boost, which will greatly reduce the impact on the general fund.
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A third round of one-time “Spud Bug” money for school districts.
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A Learning Recovery Block Grant.
Water Conservation Opportunities for Youth
Further expanding local educational opportunities, Kat Voskes, representing the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, presented new conservation programs available to SPUSD students.
Upcoming educational opportunities for local youth include:
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Watershed Restoration volunteering including tree planting and trash cleanups—in the San Gabriel Mountains on October 24 and November 14.
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A “Water Education Grant Program” offering teachers up to $1,000 for K-12 classroom projects.
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Free live assemblies for K-5 schools performed by the National Theater for Children.
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A school bus tour program in partnership with LA County Sanitation Districts, providing behind-the-scenes looks at wastewater treatment facilities.
As the school year kicks off, the conversation around classroom technology, historic funding, and community engagement in South Pasadena is just beginning. To stay informed on these critical issues, parents and residents are encouraged to attend the next SPUSD Board of Education meeting. If you are a teacher looking to apply for the Upper Water Education Grant, be sure to submit your application by the October 16 deadline. To register for the upcoming watershed restoration volunteer events this fall, visit the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District’s official website.
