ICCSD’s review of the 1:1 Chromebook policy
I applaud ICCSD’s current review of the 1:1 Chromebook policy (initiative to assign one personal laptop to every K-12 student). In addition to classroom-related use including ed-tech, Google classroom, digital lessons and access to the internet for research, the school has invested in a personal entertainment device. When secondary students finish their classwork, eat lunch or sit in study hall, they can stream movies, listen to music on Spotify, play video games such as Fortnite, scroll YouTube shorts and post on social media. Once it is time to do classwork again, some manage to refocus while others find their attention is fragmented because these little machines do it all.
Chromebooks should be shared tools used only where there is a distinct instructional advantage. Internet access needs to be restricted to academic use with the district blocking all entertainment and social media sites(including YouTube). Finally, we cannot allow this technology to interfere with the human connection necessary for psycho-social development (tech-free spaces should include hallways, lunchrooms, school assemblies, etc).
There are many models we can follow if we decide to revise our approach to personalized tech. Schools all over the world are rolling back 1:1 policies by using storage carts and check out systems. Teachers are doing more reading and writing off the screen so they don’t have to police internet use. As Inge Esping, Kansas’ middle school Principal of the year in 2025, said when discussing the benefits of reversing his school’s 1:1 policy, “This technology can be a tool. It is not the answer to education”.
Salomé Phillmann
Iowa City
I know who Rod Sullivan is
Before I met Rod Sullivan I knew who he was. Of course I knew him from his work on the county board, but mostly I was most impressed when I learned how he and his wife opened their hearts and their home to so many foster kids from so many backgrounds over the years. I’m a mom and a grandma, and you see what a big heart Rod has every time you see him with his kids and his granddaughter.
Then in 2019 I got to see firsthand Rod’s heart AND his willingness to fight for county residents like me when a greedy private equity firm bought the Golfview Mobile Home Court in North Liberty. Rod was among the first of the local leaders who stood with us mobile home court residents as we organized to fight back. He still stands with us today.
Thanks to Iowa Republicans and the districts they forced on us, I can’t vote for Rod like I have for years. But I would if I could. And I hope my friends and neighbors who live in his district will support him in June, and then again in November. A vote for Rod is good for all of us, no matter where you live in Johnson County.
Sincerely,
Candi Evans
North Liberty
Cell phones continue to be a major distraction for students in the Iowa City
Cell phones continue to be a major distraction for students in the Iowa City Community School District. In the first part of this year, the ICCSD opened up discussion regarding this ongoing issue. With current policies only limiting phone use during instructional time, I advocate for the district to strongly reconsider implementing a bell-to-bell phone ban.In just the first 13 weeks of the 2025-26 school year, 1,350 phone violations had been reported. This is clear evidence that the current phone policy is not working. Schools are seeing that increased phone use is linked to lower academic performance, social behaviors, and reduced focus in the classroom.The Cedar Rapids and Ottumwa school districts have seen positive impacts since implementing a bell-to-bell ban. There has been an increase in grades, reports of less bullying, and a drop in absenteeism. Some school districts with bell-to-bell bans have created systems for students to contact parents in cases of emergencies. Parents in these districts even reported less screen time and more social engagement at home.As a college student, I’ve felt firsthand the negative impact a phone can have in the classroom. I encourage parents and school board members in the ICCSD to consider implementing a bell-to-bell cell phone ban.
Sincerely,
Jaelyn Aitchison
Monticello
A supervisor needs to have a deep affection for the community
For over 20 years, Rod Sullivan has served as a Johnson County supervisor. He’s set a high standard. A supervisor needs to have a deep affection for the community and awareness of all its needs and problems. A supervisor must listen regularly and attentively to the various voices and viewpoints that make up that community, yet end up representing everyone when decisions are made. A supervisor needs to have confidence in and earned the trust of the employees under board supervision – from department heads through part-time summer help. A supervisor must work cooperatively and effectively with other elected officials – the sheriff, treasurer, auditor, state senators and representatives, mayors, city councils, and union leaders – to achieve desired goals. Supervisors need a keen understanding of financial and budgetary matters – where the money comes from and where it needs to go. A supervisor needs to be present and ready to do the hard work this job entails. Rod has done that work. He deserves your vote in the upcoming primary.
Jim and Chris Walters
Iowa City
Rod Sullivan is dogged in his commitment to balancing the scales
I am writing to share my support for Rod Sullivan for Johnson County Supervisor. Having worked with Rod for 30 years, I have seen him tackle many complex issues with integrity and focus. He understands both the potential and the limits of county government and he’s clear on the difference between talk and results.
Rod is dogged in his commitment to balancing the scales for our most vulnerable neighbors. His leadership has helped local human service agencies leverage resources for early education, youth development, public health, immigrant rights, housing, aging, disabilities, and more. He is a reasoned and compassionate leader who listens to our concerns and shows up to celebrate our successes.
Rod has my complete trust and respect. I will be voting for him in the County Supervisor Primary for District 4 on June 2, and I encourage others to do the same.
Brian Loring
Iowa City
Rod Sullivan is the best decision-maker in the supervisor race
I am supporting Rod Sullivan for reelection to the Johnson County Board of Supervisors for too many reasons to fit here, but they all boil down to one thing: Rod is the best decision maker in the race.
In the past I have supported both of these local Democrats. I have knocked on doors for both V Fixmer-Oraiz and Rod Sullivan. I have walked in parades carrying signs and wearing shirts for both of these people. Heck, I even remember both Rod and I meeting with V on their front porch into the evening to help during V’s first run for office. I could tell you great things about both of them and tell you about times we have (and still do) stand shoulder to shoulder to do good things for the community and people we care about. And the way I see it, all three of us will continue finding ways to work together long after the dust of this primary election has settled, regardless of how it settles.
Republicans in Des Moines have ordained that my two friends have to face off against each other, and I wish they hadn’t done that.
But here we are. Now we have a decision to make, even though none of us here asked for it.
From my experience on the Iowa City Council, I can say it’s devilishly hard to be a local leader in Iowa today and make strategic and smart decisions that successfully bring our shared progressive Democratic ideals to bear on a far less progressive Republican tainted reality.
But it can be done.
Done well, it puts the actual progress into being progressive and people’s lives get demonstrably better.
Done less well, it makes noise but doesn’t make changes that help people in their actual lives.
Done poorly, you can still make noise but you also end up taking steps backwards and people get hurt.
I consider both Rod and V to be friends and to be good people with good hearts, but at the end of the day, I believe Rod is better in the role of making decisions that make all our lives better here in Johnson County.
Rod does a better job of avoiding the merely performative and instead excels in performing the hard job of county supervisor. Rod does a better job of making decisions based on good progressive ideas, and not decisions based on unbending ideology.
Rod has an impressive track record of decisions that make our lives in Johnson County better. A few of those decisions include work on the creation of the GuideLink Center, raising the minimum wage, more funding for affordable housing, passing a human rights ordinance, supporting the Conservation Bond Initiative, adding rural warning sirens, and creating the Local Foods Policy Council. And the list goes on. And on. And on.
And so for these reasons, I think our best decision right now is to support the best decision maker for the county board, and that person is Rod Sullivan.
Shawn Harmsen
Iowa City Council District B
Vote for Travis Terrell
There is no ceasefire in Gaza. Al Jazeera reports that 383 people have been killed there since the agreement began on October 2025.
Ordinary citizens are also dying of starvation, hypothermia, and lack of medical care in the devastated tiny strip of land. Most of the population has been displaced and live in tents, either in refugee camps or on their own land since their homes have been destroyed. Children are attending schools in temporary buildings or tents since their educational institutions have been destroyed.
The Board of “Peace” put forward by the current US administration “aims to turn Gaza into a playground for investors,” according to Qassam Muaddi in the magazine Mondoweiss. The “negotiations” included no Palestinians. The plan is to build a tourist attraction on the sea and push the Palestinians who refuse to leave onto bantustans or reservations.
What can you do about it? I don’t believe the current administration can be persuaded to change their minds about the situation. It has always been my belief that policy will never change unless we elect politicians who align with our values.
That is why Iowans for Palestine, a coalition of organizations that support Palestinian human rights, of which I am convener, is proud to endorse Travis Terrell for Congress. Travis has been speaking about the Gazans since the very first of his campaign. He is not afraid to call it genocide. And that is not all. Travis supports progressive issues up and down the ballot. He believes healthcare is a right, not a privilege, and supports universal healthcare. He supports clean water and environmental objectives.
He supports the LGBTQ+ community. He is against our tax dollars going to provide financing to private schools. And more. But, don’t take my word for it. Look at his website: http://www.terrellforcongress.com. Talk to him yourself. Email him with your concerns. He will listen to your thoughts and concerns. I know he will. He listened to me.
He is not your run-of-the-mill Democratic candidate that is out of touch with his constituents. Let’s elect someone who really cares about his constituents and their families.
Vote for Travis Terrell in the Democratic primary.
Pat Minor
Iowa City
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: ICCSD’s review of the 1:1 Chromebook policy | Letters
Reporting by Ames Tribune / Ames Tribune
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