The Johnston County Board of Education on Tuesday approved revisions to two policies that govern student and staff use of personal electronic devices, aligning local rules with recent state legislation and clarifying when teachers may authorize phone use in class.

The board adopted revisions to policy 4318, "Use of Wireless Communication Devices," and to the technology-responsible-use policy (32/3225/4312/7320). The change to policy 4318 adds language specifying that "administrators and teachers may authorize individual students to use personal electronic devices for communicating during a crisis, educational purposes, or for unforeseen needs." The board also approved adding language to the technology-responsible-use policy that states, "staff may use phones for emergency purposes, educational purposes, and when not supervising or instructing students."

Policy committee members and administrators said the updates respond to recent state action. “In recent legislation, House Bill 959 (Session Law 2025-38), revisions were made addressing clear guidelines for the use of cell phones to include educational purposes,” the district policy presenter said during the meeting.

Board members discussed implementation and enforcement. Some members expressed concern that allowing educational use could reintroduce distractions the district sought to reduce with prior restrictions and that teachers might be put in the position of policing phones during class time. Superintendent Doctor Pierce told the board he had communicated expectations to principals and that the district’s student code of conduct already describes progressive consequences for offenses.

The district also noted that policy 4318 must be reported to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction by Sept. 1 per the statute; staff said subsequent changes will be sent to DPI as required.

Ending: Board members said they expect the superintendent and principals to monitor the policy’s effects and return to the policy committee with suggested adjustments if classroom disruptions increase.