RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) – Parents and school divisions are now planning for their students not to have their phones on them throughout the school day.
Some are now voicing their concerns about the state’s new cell phone-free policy.
“My initial reaction was, what does this policy entail? And what’s going to be inclusive for the safety of our children?” Clovia Lawrence said.
Lawrence’s daughter is a senior at Varina High School. She said she wasn’t sure about a school cell phone ban, especially given the rise in violence in schools across the country.
“I’m like ok, I won’t have a problem with the cell phones being put away whether it’s in the pouch only if there are communication devices stored in the classroom,” Lawrence said.
The Virginia Department of Education just finalized its cell phone guidance. It says schools should enforce a bell-to-bell ban, where there can be some leeway before and after school.
It also clarified that students will not be able to use their phones during lunches or free periods.
“Look, I haven’t been shy about disagreeing with the state when I think they’re going in the wrong direction, but this is, I think, one of those cases where I very much think they’re going in the right direction,” RPS Superintendent Jason Kamras said.
Kamras said Richmond Schools will now have to make sure their guidelines match what the state wants.
“We will be working through it,” Kamras said. “We have a listening session coming up and then we will bring to the board our final recommendation for policy that the board will put in place so that we are compliant come January.”
The guideline also requires school divisions to have a plan for students and parents to contact each other in an emergency.
“We just want our kids to have a safe and successful school year, we want them to abide by the policies in place, but more over we want to make sure our kids are safe at every turn,” Lawrence said.
School divisions now have until Jan. 1 to meet these policies.
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