Public Comment at Montgomery BOE Meeting Focuses on Screen Time, AI, Public Participation and AP Chinese Testing

Nicholas Mistretta

The public comment portion of the June 16 Montgomery Township Board of Education meeting centered largely on student screen time, the district’s use of classroom technology and artificial intelligence, the timing of public comment, and requests to restore Montgomery High School as a testing site for the AP Chinese Language and Culture exam.

Some residents objected to the timing of public comment, which did not begin until nearly four hours after the 5 p.m. meeting start time and followed an executive session of approximately 90 minutes. Speakers said the late timing has become a recurring concern and asked the board to consider a more accessible and predictable schedule for public participation. One speaker noted that nearby districts offer public comment earlier in the evening or provide more than one opportunity for public input. Others said some residents had left before the public comment period began because of the late hour. Board President Patrick Todd said the board could review the timing of public comment, but did not provide a timeline for any decision.

A large portion of the public comment period focused on concerns about the amount and type of screen use in classrooms. Parents said they were not opposed to technology but wanted clearer guidelines, stronger guardrails and a better understanding of how often students are using Chromebooks, classroom screens, videos, digital assignments and other technology during the school day.

Several speakers questioned whether young students should be completing routine assignments, including math homework, on computers instead of using paper and pencil. Others raised concerns about gamified learning platforms, screen-based rewards, movies shown during class time, and students working independently on Chromebooks for extended periods.

Parents asked the district to consider age-based limits, more paper-based assignments, more handwriting instruction, greater use of outdoor time, and stronger standards for when technology is educationally necessary.

A number of speakers also raised concerns about artificial intelligence. Some asked the district to include parents in the development of AI policies and to provide meaningful opt-out options for student-facing AI tools or assignments. Others said the district should carefully evaluate vendors and consider the ethical, developmental, environmental and academic implications of AI before expanding its use.

Speakers also asked for more transparency and more objective measurement of total screen exposure during the school day. One parent said the district’s review of Chromebook use did not capture all screen time, including smartboards, videos, classroom presentations, phones and other digital tools.

Several speakers cited their professional backgrounds in education, medicine, clinical therapy, technology, physical therapy and higher education as they urged the board to examine the developmental impact of prolonged screen use. Concerns included attention, critical thinking, handwriting development, fine motor skills, posture, eye strain, social interaction and students’ ability to engage in sustained mental work without digital assistance.

Others argued that future career readiness requires collaboration, communication, problem-solving and the ability to work with people who hold different viewpoints — skills they said are not strengthened by excessive time on individual devices.

Superintendent Mary McLoughlin thanked residents for sharing their concerns and said she, Director of Technology Jeff Brooks and Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Development Fiona Borland were working with parents and looked forward to meeting with them and forming a group to continue the conversation.

Several speakers also addressed AP Chinese testing. Parents, students and alumni asked the district to consider restoring Montgomery High School as a testing site for the AP Chinese Language and Culture exam.

Speakers said Montgomery previously offered the AP Chinese exam prior to 2019, but students have since had to search for testing sites outside the district. They described the process as difficult and unreliable, with families contacting schools across New Jersey and surrounding states to find available seats.

A recent Montgomery High School graduate, said she took the AP Chinese exam at another high school in 2023 and had to return for a makeup exam after a College Board system issue interrupted testing. She said the experience underscored the burden placed on students who cannot take the exam in their own district. An eighth-grade student and rising Montgomery High School freshman, said restoring the exam site would recognize students who have studied Chinese for years outside the district’s regular curriculum. He said the issue was about more than one test, describing it as a way for the district to support multilingualism, cultural understanding and student achievement.

One Parent stated 58 Montgomery students have taken the AP Chinese exam since 2019 despite the lack of a home testing site. Hu said families were not asking the district to create a new course, but rather to allow students who have achieved proficiency through outside study to take the exam at Montgomery High School.

Following public comment, McLoughlin said the district made a decision several years ago to offer AP exams only for courses that it offers. She said the district views AP exams not only as an opportunity for possible college credit, but as an extension of a student’s school-based academic program and the rigor of material taught in district courses.

In addition, McLoughlin added that the district previously offered AP Chinese as a course, but it was discontinued because of low enrollment. She said many students who were interested in Chinese language study were attending outside Chinese school programs rather than taking the course through Montgomery High School, which affected enrollment in the district program.

Photo Credit: Nick Mistretta/headlinenewsmontgomery.com