Community members filled the Kreps Conference Center on March 24 for a Tamalpais Union High School District (TUHSD) board meeting that focused on the agenda for phone-free schools for the 2026-27 school year among other topics.
The meeting opened with the recognition of the Redwood High School girls basketball team. The girls won the Marin County Athletic League (MCAL) championship and earned the North Coast Sectionals (NCS) division one title during their season. Team captain Elsa Houtkooper described the team’s hard work during the season.
“This team has shown incredible determination, teamwork and sportsmanship all year long. They’ve put in countless hours of practice, pushed themselves to improve and support one another both on and off the court,” Houtkooper said. “Thank you the Tam District for taking the time to celebrate and recognize our girls basketball team. Your support means so much to our players, coaches and families.”
Following the recognition, 26 public commenters came to address issues not on the meeting’s consent agenda.
Two commenters spoke in regards to student press freedom for the Bark, citing pressures from the district and a lack of editorial independence.
Parent of a student at Redwood High School Susan Harris explained her concerns with press freedoms of the Bark during her 40 second segment during public comment.
“What I know is that the students and advisors have been feeling pressure,” Harris said. “In less than a week, over 300 parents and community members signed a letter supporting student press freedom. We are advocating for clear, board approved policies that protect student editorial independence.”
Harris submitted a letter to the board signed by 333 community members to be given to each trustee and put on public record.
12 commenters spoke on the recent reduction of the TEAM program at Archie Williams High School, urging the board to put the decision on the consent agenda and reconsider the decision to cut the program from a two-year class of juniors and seniors, to a one-year class consisting of only seniors. Senior Camilla Craig described the concerns posed by herself and other members of the Archie Williams community during public comment.
“A senior-only model would not function as well since seniors are already thinking about the next thing,” Craig said. “[TEAM] gives juniors unique experiences for their
college activities. As seniors, we mentor the juniors [so they’re prepared for their senior year].”
Holding signs reading “SAVE TEAM at AWHS”, members of the TEAM community focused on pausing the decision to figure out a better way to meet budget restrictions at Archie Williams. Parent Brendan Mullins called on the board to pull back the
decision for discussion, citing that the district funds will allow for more time to discuss how to fulfill the mandated budget cuts at Archie Williams.
“The budget certification tells us it’s okay to pause, to be thoughtful. There is time to do this the right way,” Mullins said. “We’re just asking for that chance.”
Following the non-agenda comments on TEAM, the meeting pivoted to a presentation from Superintendent Dr. Goode on a proposed bell-to-bell phone ban using Yondr pouches for the 2026-27 school year. Goode said that the district’s current policy, which allows phone use during breaks and lunch, does not go far enough, citing many articles linking smartphones to addiction, mental health struggles and impaired learning.
“This isn’t a conversation about teachers not enforcing our current policy; they are,” Goode said. “The problem is that our current policy doesn’t go far enough to mitigate the negative impacts.”
Board President Cynthia Roenisch expressed her support for phone-free schools.
“My own personal opinion is we are committing educational malpractice if we don’t ban phones for the whole bell schedule,” Roenisch said. “I don’t think we can say we care about kids if we don’t ban phones for the [whole] day.”
Trustee Kevin Saavedra echoed this message, calling for the board to take increased action against phone usage in schools.
“We can’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good, and we have to do more than we’ve been doing. We need to be doing as much as we possibly can,” Saavedra said, “I believe this is the best solution as compared to the other options that are out there.”
Student trustees disagreed, however, noting concerns about the enforcement and cost of Yondr pouches; people noted the usage of fishing magnets that students can use to open pouches.
“I am not against phone free schools,” said Redwood High School student trustee Adriella Marcus. “But I, along with many other students, am very concerned about Yondr, specifically about the enforcement and the cost.”
This item is expected to return as an action item at the April 14 meeting.
The Board also approved updates to the Measure B bond program, which has grown to approximately 295 million dollars after interest earnings. However, trustees said that the increase will leave around 60 million in necessary facility construction projects across district sites unfunded.
