School Committee Approves Doorman Cell Phone App Trial, Pending Legal Review

WILMINGTON — May 28, 2026 — Wilmington School Committee approves Doorman cell phone app pilot on a 5-1 vote, contingent on legal review. The committee voted Wednesday to enter an agreement with Doorman, a venture-backed startup, to deploy its NFC-tag-based application at the middle and high schools as the district's preferred method for complying with pending state bell-to-bell cell phone legislation still awaiting a governor's signature. The app costs $5 per student and locks devices from first period until dismissal; students whose parents decline the app would surrender phones to the main office. Committee member Dr. Michael McCauley cast the sole dissenting vote, citing unresolved concerns about the two-year-old company's data security infrastructure and financial solvency. Member Nicholas Golden, who made the amended motion, added the legal-review contingency after colleagues called for district counsel, the IT director, and DESE to independently vet the commercial contract and privacy agreement before funds are expended. The committee also approved $7,658.24 in Wilmington Education Foundation technology grants distributed across seven staff recipients.