001As Fairfax County Public Schools inch closer to the end of the school year, students could come back with a new set of cell phone restrictions. It was a big topic at a recent school board meeting. But despite lawmakers passing a law with similar limits, not everyone is on board. Our Matthew Torres joins us in Mlan after hearing from board members in Fairfax County. A lot of opinions on this, Matthew. Simone, that's right. The largest school district here in Virginia is already requiring students to put away their phones during class time, but now FCPS staff is recommending stricter rules. In collaboration with the chief of schools, at this recent schoolboard meeting, Fairfax County Public Schools is proposing to ban use of cell phones from the start to end of school, including lunchtime and in between classes.
002Phones and tablets would no longer be used for class lessons and instructions. Exceptions include students with specialized learning plans or medical conditions. All of us are going to take a deeper dive and look into it and look at what we feel is workable for Fairfax County schools, for administrators, and for our students. The recommendations hope to reflect a new law with amendments by Governor Glenn Yncan to prohibit use of phones from bell to bell, which aligns with his executive order last year. But some school board members question if the term restriction, as mentioned in the bill, means an actual ban. And I'm really a little hesitant on making a more restriction with only the only reason for it being because we think that's what the law says. It's an issue raised because some board members
003say other students rely on their phone for other reasons. I have a lot of students that do work. I have a lot of students that sometimes do need to check their phones so that they can know if they're going to have to go into work. I also have a lot of students that are taking care of kids, younger kids at home. The bill sponsor, Senator Stella Karsski, is the former FCPS board chair. She says with how the new law stands now, there's little room for interpretation. I don't see wiggle room in this. I think it was very clear what the governor uh what the governor's amendment intended to do. Picarski says aside from Fairfax County, there's been no push back from other school districts. She stresses kids can bring their phones, just can't have it
004out. from all accounts and all the feedback that I've gotten from principles across the Commonwealth and here um in the county is that it's working great. Now, the school systems attorney is also saying though that uh board members do have that flexibility to conduct their own guidelines based on how this law is written. There are 15 middle school and high middle schools and high schools participating in a pilot program where students have to lock their phones away. Uh and according to recent data from FCPS staff, the schools who are participating in the pilot program saw fewer cell phone violations compared to those who are not a part of this program. They did say just slightly fewer. Simone, well, you highlighted it perfectly, Matthew. This is a belltoell. You know, no access to your cell phone.
005before you could use it during lunch or during passing periods and this is quite the pivot in the opposite direction. Thank you for detailing that for us. We'll check back in with you for updates. Appreciate it.