CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – The Charleston County School District’s Board of Trustees discussed an update to one important policy Monday night: the prohibition of personal electronic devices during the school day.
The conversation and changes are necessary as the State Board of Education approved a model policy to ban cellphones for students in South Carolina public schools back in September.
Members of the Board of Trustees heard the updated cellphone policy for the first time on Monday, prompting conversations about some questions in the policy.
“I believe that we need to be very detailed and explicit about this policy across middle school and high school, because if we are not, you have a lot of issues with students and teachers,” Board Member Carlotte Bailey said.
To share the purpose of the policy, it states the goal is to create a phone-free school environment that fosters a positive learning experience free from electronic distractions.
It also reads in part:
By prohibiting the use of personal electronic devices during the school day, this policy aims to provide an environment that enhances focus and engagement.
The majority of the changes to the policy come directly from the State Board of Education as a full statewide implementation will start in January.
From Pre-K to 12th grade, students may possess devices such as mobile telephones, smartphones, smart watches, or other such devices as described above provided such devices are not visible, used, or activated and are kept in the “off” position throughout the instructional school day, according to the policy.
Once the policy is approved, it will be applicable to grades kindergarten through twelve for the 2024-2025 school year.
“I think this is an opportunity for parental engagement, because there’s going to be parents who are very upset about this, and it’s going to need to be very clear,” Board Member Courtney Waters said.
The policy states students would be allowed to use their devices before and after the school day, during classroom instruction when approved by the school and on school buses, field trips, and athletic events approved by the superintendent.
“Let’s say I’m a teacher; I want the kids to use their cell phones. That means I really have to plan to get permission for that, and if it had to go up to the superintendent, it seems a long step,” Board Member Dr. Carol Tempel.
One piece of the policy that states students must keep such devices stored in a purse, locker, backpack, or other non-visible secure location during the school day brought discussion from the board.
“With the possession of the cell phone, you’re telling the kids, ‘OK, you can have it in your book bag, but you can’t use it,’” Bailey said.
“Why are we putting them in bags in the homeroom? If the student says, ‘I don’t want mine in my bag, I want it in my backpack with me‘?” Board Member Ed Kelley said.
Board members also raised questions about how a student would be punished for having a electronic device.
Deputy Superintendent Dr. Luke Clamp clarified the district does not want to suspend students because of cellphones.
“We do not intend to treat the cellphone any differently than the PDP that we already right now,” Clamp said. “We want to focus our attention on keeping students in class and keeping students in our schools.”
The overall conversation between board members was civil and members of district staff said they agreed some clarification in the policy needs to be made before the first official reading on Oct. 28.
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