VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Wednesday evening, Virginia Beach City Public Schools shared how they plan to implement Governor Glenn Youngkin's executive order establishing cell-phone-free education in all Virginia schools at an informational session. It was the first of three information sessions the school division plans to hold.
According to the executive order, Virginia school districts must adopt and implement policies that align with the state's bell-to-bell guidance. This means cell phones should be turned off and stored away from the first bell at the start of the school day until the dismissal bell.
The guidance shares that cell phone-free guidelines will be applied differently to elementary, middle and high school students. The plans discussed at the meeting on Wednesday were tentative.
Initial steps for elementary schools' cell phone-free education:
- Cell phones and personal electronic devices will not be used within the building or on school grounds.
- The device must be turned off and stored away from the student during the school day.
- Parents and educators should use school-based communication tools and channels to communicate emergencies and non-emergencies.
Issues still up for discussion for elementary school-aged children:
- Should the school division create policies surrounding cell phones and personal electronic communication devices used on school buses?
Initial steps for middle schools' cell phone-free education:
Cell phones and personal electronic devices will not be used by students within the building or on school grounds.
- The device must be turned off and stored away from the students during the school day.
- Parents and educators should use school-based communication tools and channels to communicate emergencies and non-emergencies.
Issues still up for discussion for middle school-aged children:
- How school divisions must make policies that determine cell phone and personal electronic communication device use, including before and after school, on school buses, within the school building and on school grounds.
- Also, how educators and all co-curricular and extracurricular sponsors must use non-social media-based applications to communicate activity and athletic information during school hours.
Initial steps for high schools' cell phone-free education:
- Devices may be used before, on, or after school.
- Parents should use school-based communication tools and channels to communicate emergencies and non-emergencies during bell-to-bell instructional time.
Issues still up for discussion for high school-aged children:
- How the device must be turned off and stored away from the student during the bell-to-bell school day.
- As well as how educators, coaches, and sponsors must use non-social media-based applications to communicate activity and athletic information during school hours.
Cell Phone Storage
The school division's shared storage options for cell phones or personal electronic communication devices include but are not limited to: the students' backpack, locker, locked pouch, or designated place in the classroom.
Parents and guardians were not given time to ask questions during this informational session but were encouraged to share their concerns at future school board meetings.
Moreover, superintendent Donald Robertson encouraged parents to help with this transition by urging them to create cell phone time at home -- for example, putting the cell phones away during dinner time.
The next informational sessions are scheduled for October 23rd, 6–7 p.m., at Princess Anne High School, and October 30th, 6–7 p.m., at Kellam High School. ️