HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Hanover County Public School leaders are grappling with what to do when it comes to cell phones usage at schools across the district.
At a meeting on Tuesday, May 14, board members had to weigh in on whether to change the district’s current policy to further limit students’ use of the devices in school buildings. The discussion at the May 14 meeting centered around whether to change the policy at elementary and middle schools in the county.
The decision to revisit the policy comes as several surrounding districts have recently made changes to their cell phone policies that limit student usage.
“This is a mental health matter. I mean, discipline is part of it as well,” said school board member Greg Coleman.
School board members like Coleman say that they fear that cell phones are becoming an increasing distraction, as members try to figure out what to do to stem the tide in elementary and middle schools.
Current school policy allows students to use cell phones in the hallways and bathrooms, but now, officials are considering five ways to change that policy.
The first is a Yondr cell phone pouch, which would keep the devices locked inside them during the school day. The pouches are already being used in Hopewell and Richmond schools. If the program were to come to Hanover County, it would cost about $500,000.
“That’s a lot of money just to get kids to follow the rules. If they don’t follow the rules, you live with the consequences,” said board member John Redd.
Officials are also considering a program called Phonelocker that also uses the pouches as a storing method.
A third choice involves storing students’ phones inside a large cabinet that would be kept either in a classroom or the main office.
The fourth idea is using cellphone pockets, where phones are stored in small individual holders in the classroom still technically accessible to students.
“I just look at it is it’s an overall distraction for our learning. Our instruction. Time is being interrupted and, in my opinion, out of sight, out of mind is the only way to go,” said Vice Chairman Steven Ikenberry.
Finally, leaders say they could just announce that the county will be no longer be allowing students to use phones during the day. If a student breaks that rule the phone will be taken and the student will be punished, and their phone confiscated.
“We want to support our teachers. We want to have an impact where the teachers interact with the students. And if we can put a policy with teeth and we have confidence that it will be implemented, then we probably already have our answer,” said Chairmen Robert May.
Board members did not vote on a new policy at Tuesday’s meeting, they instead opted to take the next 30 days to talk to teachers, parents and others about these changes.
Leaders say they hope to be able to vote on a policy in which they feel confident by the next meeting. Click here for more details from Tuesday’s School Board presentation.
