VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The conversation around cell-phone-free learning has been brewing since Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin issued his official final guidance back in September following an executive order in July.
But now, Virginia Beach City Public Schools have a path forward for how they'll implement a cell phone-free learning environment.
But before the vote Tuesday night, parents of the division made one last plea to the council.
"It is important to recognize cell phones are a vital tool for communication, particularly in today's fast-paced world. Many parents rely on their children being able to access their phones during the school day to check in, coordinate after school plans, or address urgent matters," said one parent on Tuesday night.
The approved policies ban the use of cell phones and other electronic devices during instructional time from the first bell to the final bell.
One of the points of contention during the vote was the option to allow high school students to use their phone during the lunch period.
School Board members Jessica Owens and Beverly Anderson agreed that high schoolers should get this exception.
"I think that the high schoolers during that lunch block helps not put the burden back on the Staff to be cell phone police," said Owens.
"They have to know this: when they get out into society, cell phones are not going to go away," said Anderson. "So I believe strongly that, during lunch, it's really necessary."
One board member did propose an amendment that would have eliminated that exception, but it ultimately failed, allowing the exception to stand.
Superintendent Dr. Donald Robertson says the division plans to go "bell-to-bell" with the cell phone-free policy in the 2025-2026 school year.
Youngkin's mandate states that all school divisions in the state have till January 1 to put cell-phone-free education policies in place.