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White County keeps current cell‑phone rules; survey shows split among teachers, students, parents
Summary
After reviewing feedback and local practices, the White County Board of Education decided not to change its existing policy on personal electronic devices. Administrators and a student representative told trustees the district sees limited discipline incidents tied to phones and uses classroom pouches or teacher discretion in many classes.
The White County Board of Education on May 8 reviewed policy 60312 on personal communications and electronic devices and agreed not to adopt a district‑wide student cellphone ban at this time.
Administrators and the high‑school principal’s representative told trustees the district’s existing policy — which restricts phone use during instruction and allows teacher‑managed solutions such as classroom pouches — is working. A survey of teachers, students and parents included in board materials showed strong teacher support for stricter limits, while students were broadly opposed and parents split.
Why it matters: The Tennessee legislature recently passed a law that affects how districts manage student device use. Local boards must decide how to align district policy with the new law while balancing classroom instruction, student wellbeing and parental concerns.
White County High School assistant principal Scott Wilson and science chair Wesley Martin were cited as involved in a related lab renovation and grant conversation, and high‑school administrator Amy Hawkins described school discipline data: roughly 700 discipline referrals this year with about 60 linked to cell‑phone violations two weeks earlier. Hawkins said many teachers use in‑class pouches; math classes, she said, have a pouch system tied to calculators.
Student representative Isabella Sackett told trustees she supports the current policy and warned that changing it could create unnecessary disruption. “If you have a policy in order that's working well that you're not seeing many problems with, the students are happy. I wouldn't change it,” Sackett said.
Director Drombarger said administrators are not hearing widespread problems that would compel an immediate policy overhaul, though he acknowledged cellphone use can be a distraction. The board asked administrators to ensure consistent enforcement and agreed to monitor discipline data.
The board made no motion to change policy at the meeting; trustees indicated they will continue to enforce the existing rules and revisit the issue if school‑level reports indicate rising problems.
