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Area schools are preparing new additions to school policies and regulations regarding the use of cell phones and personal electronic devices in schools, to align with Executive Order 33, issued by Gov. Glenn Youngkin in July. Lexington City Schools have drafted a policy, and Buena Vista City Public Schools have drafted a regulation.
Rockbridge County Public Schools are currently working on its policy draft. Rockbridge Superintendent Phillip Thompson said that he is working together with the school’s attorneys to draft a policy that is airtight, and he expects to present a draft to the School Board at November’s meeting.
These drafts will be examined by their respective school boards, and are required by the state to be in place by Jan. 1.
In Lexington According to Lexington Superintendent Rebecca Walters, it was easy to draft her division’s new policy because it was so similar to its previous policy. Lexington students have been used to putting away their devices from bell to bell for at least two years.
Lexington City Schools’ policy draft emphasizes creating a focused, distraction-free educational environment to promote health and safety, and to prevent issues related to depression and anxiety.
For elementary students, cell phones must be stored in a location determined by the individual school, according to guidelines in each school’s handbook, with escalating consequences for violations: first, a reminder alongside contacting a parent or guardian; second, device confiscation until a parent or guardian retrieves it; and third, a 30-day prohibition on bringing devices to school.
Middle school students must keep devices powered off in lockers during school hours, with similar escalation for policy breaches, ending in a 30-day restriction after the third offense.
Across all K-8 levels, students may use devices during noninstructional after-school events, on the bus if non-disruptive, and according to the host school’s policy if visiting another campus.
Teachers and other school personnel are expected to strictly enforce the new device policy. They are also themselves discouraged from using devices during class time, instruction, or direct supervision time. They may use devices on break, during planning, and in communicating with other staff. Communications related to extracurricular activities or events are expected to go through nonsocial media-based apps.
The policy also prohibits using phones or other devices for bullying, harassment, violent acts, nudity, and academic dishonesty.
As for exemptions to the policy, students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), 504 Plan, or with a language barrier may receive accommodations, provided they are documented in writing.
In Buena Vista Buena Vista Superintendent Tony Francis said he has decided to draft a regulation because it is a simpler process to change a regulation after implementation than a policy.
The drafted cell phone regulation for Buena Vista City Schools resembles Lexington’s policy draft, with only a few differences. It requires that elementary students keep devices off and stored in backpacks, while middle and high school students may store devices in either their backpacks or lockers.
For elementary and middle school students, the disciplinary steps are: a verbal warning with parental contact and device confiscation for the first offense, retrieval by a parent for the second, and a 30-day restriction on bringing devices to school for the third.
High school students face a similar progression, though the third offense additionally results in placement at the Alternative Suspension Center if they violate the 30-day restriction. Refusal to surrender a phone also leads to placement at the Alternative Suspension Center.
Device use is permitted for noninstructional after-school activities, approved medical exceptions, and on the bus if non-disruptive.
Teachers are expected to model their cell phone use after the student policy, refraining from using phones during instructional times but they may use them on breaks, planning time, or for school-related communications.
