Nash County schools adopt revised cell-phone policy; smartwatches treated like phones

The Nash County Board of Education voted to adopt a revised Policy 43-18 that prohibits student use or display of cell phones and smartwatches during instructional time and delegates authority to the superintendent to set rules for limited, classroom-authorized educational uses.

Board members approved the staff-recommended version of the policy on first read and waived the 30-day second-reading requirement. Two board members recorded opposition during the voice vote; the board chair declared the motion carried.

Board staff and principals said the revised policy defines instructional time differently by school level: at elementary and middle schools instructional time begins when students arrive on campus and ends at dismissal; at traditional high schools instructional time begins with the first tardy bell and ends at dismissal. The staff version adds smartwatches to the definition of "wireless communication devices," so any smartwatch functions that enable communication must be disabled during prohibited times.

Staff emphasized the statutory deadline to adopt a revised policy by Jan. 1, and presented two alternate drafts before recommending the version that delegates authority to the superintendent rather than to individual principals. "Smartwatches are an electronic device that can be used to communicate and that, they wanted to treat them in the same manner that they treated cell phones," said Mr. Farah, a district staff member who presented the draft.

Superintendent Ellis and other staff described implementation expectations: principals and teachers will set and communicate rules, students will be expected to follow them, and the district will not require teachers to physically seize devices. "He does not want staff. He doesn't want teachers fighting with students," Ellis said, stressing administrative handling of violations.

Board members and staff discussed enforcement options, including paid pouches or lockers used elsewhere, but staff said such equipment would require additional funding. The policy as passed authorizes the superintendent to create regulations specifying how teachers may grant permission for educational purposes and clarifies that wearable devices acting as communication tools must have those features disabled during restricted times.

The board adopted the policy as a revision of an existing rule; under board policy the revision could be adopted on first read and made effective immediately. Two members—Mr. Busy and Mr. Edwards—registered opposition during the vote; the board chair announced the motion carried.

Implementation steps noted by staff include communicating the new expectations to students, parents and staff before school starts, and asking principals to set school-level routines that align with the district definition of instructional time.

The board's action completes the district's update to its device rules ahead of the statutory deadline.