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Board hears proposed changes to student cell‑phone policy; public hearing and edits set for July 29
Summary
Brevard trustees discussed proposed policy revisions including a districtwide restriction on having phones out during the school day. Board members said an updated draft of policy 8406 will be posted after staff edits and that a final public hearing is scheduled for July 29; staff said the policy would take effect 28 days after that date.
Board members discussed proposed revisions to student‑use policies (including Policy 8406) that would restrict students from having cell phones out during the school day, while clarifying emergency access.
During the agenda review the chair noted public hearings on several policy items including Policy 3124, Policy 5200, Policy 8330 and Policy 8406. A board member said she had been told by staff and others that the draft of Policy 8406 would be revised before the final public hearing on July 29: “They're gonna make some changes before the final public hearing on the July 29. So there we'll have to run an ad after that day, but you'll get an email with the updated policy, and it'll be 28 days after July 29 that the, policy takes effect. So it'll be sometime in August.”
Trustee Miss Campbell voiced opposition to a complete ban on cell phones: “I I wish we weren't doing a complete banning of the cell phones just because I think there's some good exception.” Trustee Miss Wright clarified the practical effect for parents: “their student is allowed to carry their cell phone with them. They are just not allowed to have their cell phone out...They can have their phone in their back pocket on vibrate. That's completely okay. They just cannot take it out during the day.”
Board members did not take a formal vote at the meeting. Staff said they will circulate the revised draft after internal edits and run the required public‑notice advertisement following the July 29 public hearing; staff indicated the policy would take effect approximately 28 days after that final hearing.
Trustees asked that communications to parents and staff clearly explain expectations and emergency procedures so families know how to contact students during evacuations or other emergencies.
