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Cabell County board adopts interim cell‑phone resolution to comply with new West Virginia law
Summary
Facing a new state law limiting personal electronic devices during instructional time, the Cabell County Board of Education adopted an interim resolution that prohibits visible or audible use of personal devices during the instructional day and sets progressive discipline while a permanent policy is drafted.
The Cabell County Board of Education adopted an interim resolution Aug. 5 implementing the provisions of House Bill 2003 and the district’s draft student electronic‑device policy until a permanent board policy is completed. The interim measures take effect for the start of school on Aug. 13 and apply to devices during the instructional day, defined in state law as from the first instructional period through the last instructional period, including transition times.
The resolution, read aloud at the meeting, defines “personal electronic device” to include cell phones, tablets, laptops, smartwatches and portable gaming systems, and it directs that such devices “shall not be seen, heard, or actively in use” during instructional time. The resolution includes exceptions for students with individualized education programs, medical needs and emergency situations, and it authorizes staff to confiscate devices in violation of the rule.
Disciplinary steps outlined in the interim policy escalate from an office conference and parent notification on a first offense (grades 6–12) to lunch/after‑school detention for a second offense and in‑school suspension and parent pickup for later violations; refusal to surrender a device may result in up to three days out‑of‑school suspension. For K–5 students, the first offense results in device return at the end of the day; subsequent offenses require parent pickup.
Miss Hornbuckle Myers read the resolution and the full text that will serve as district practice while the board finalizes its permanent policy. Superintendent Hardesty and principals who consulted on the draft emphasized the measure’s stated goal of reducing distractions and protecting instructional time. Board member remarks stressed that staff should model the expectations.
The board approved the interim resolution by voice vote after a motion from Mr. Best and a second from Miss Neely. The motion passed without recorded opposition. The district plans a communications campaign for staff, students and families before the Aug. 13 start date.
The interim policy uses West Virginia Code definitions and specifically cites the new statutory limits on classroom device use; school officials said they adjusted language from an earlier, conflicting set of policies so expectations would be clear to parents and staff.
