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Forsyth County Board adopts distraction‑free device policy; updates 2025–26 code of conduct
Summary
The board unanimously approved proposed board policy JCDAF to limit student use of personal electronic devices during school hours, aligned with state House Bill 340; it also approved corresponding code of conduct changes to give the policy enforcement mechanisms.
The Forsyth County Board of Education on Tuesday unanimously adopted a proposed policy to limit student use of personal electronic devices during the school day and approved matching changes to the district’s 2025–26 code of conduct.
Board members said the policy implements Georgia’s Distraction‑Free Education law (House Bill 340) and extends consistent school‑day restrictions across the district. District staff told the board they gathered extensive stakeholder feedback, including a town hall and thousands of survey responses, and will publish regulations and staff guidance to clarify enforcement and exceptions.
Dr. Amy Bartlett, who led the policy presentation, told the board the district gathered more than 3,700 survey responses before the board first reviewed the recommendation, and an additional 298 responses during the 30‑day posting period. She said responses showed broad support for limiting cell phones in schools, but that respondents asked for consistent enforcement, clear communications and clarity about exceptions. Bartlett said the district will develop the regulation language that clarifies what “turned off and stored away” means in practice and will update employee handbooks, the student code of conduct and family communications as part of implementation.
Under the adopted policy — presented as board policy JCDAF — electronic devices and personal communication devices must be turned off and stored away Bell‑to‑Bell for elementary and middle grades in alignment with House Bill 340. At the high‑school level the policy allows students to access devices only during assigned lunch periods; buses and school grounds before and after the school day are excluded. The policy includes a section describing accommodations for students with Individualized Education Programs, 504 plans or medical needs.
The adopted policy also added a GSBA (Georgia School Boards Association) exemplar statement that the district or individual schools will not assume responsibility or liability for theft, loss or damage to a personal electronic device.
Todd Shirley presented the updated code of conduct for 2025–26 and said the section on electronic entertainment was rewritten to mirror the new board policy so schools have clearer enforcement authority. The code of conduct also reiterates that students are prohibited from using devices to record other students or staff without prior approval.
Superintendent Mitch Young and several board members thanked staff for what they described as a lengthy stakeholder process. Board member William Usherwood moved to adopt proposed policy JCDAF; Michael Grimes seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. Later in the meeting the board voted unanimously to adopt the amended 2025–26 code of conduct; that motion was made by Christopher McCall and seconded by William Usherwood.
Staff said next steps include drafting the board regulation that defines storage and enforcement details, updating the employee handbook and student/family communications, producing staff training materials, and coordinating code‑of‑conduct implementation across schools.
