Chester County school board adopts device policy allowing phones at breaks for grades 6–12; K–5 off all day

The Chester County Board of Education voted 4–2 to adopt a revised student electronic device policy (TSBA policy 6.312(b)) after a lengthy discussion about enforcement, exceptions and communication with families.

The adopted policy requires students in kindergarten through fifth grade to keep personal electronic devices turned off and stored for the entire school day unless an exception applies. Students in grades 6–12 must keep devices turned off during instructional time but may use them during non‑instructional periods such as between classes and, where permitted, at lunch.

The board’s debate centered on enforcement practicality and student safety. Board member Kim moved to follow the TSBA draft labeled “6.312 b” as written but with the K–5 language extended to K–12; that stricter motion failed. A later motion to adopt 6.312(b) as drafted — which distinguishes elementary grades from secondary grades — carried 4–2.

Administrators and principals who weighed in said they favored different approaches depending on grade level. Clay, identified in the meeting as the district high school principal, told board members he liked a more restrictive approach in principle but favored 6.312(b) because it distinguishes elementary grades from secondary grades and recognizes practical enforcement challenges at the high school and junior‑high levels. Renee, the junior high principal, said oversight during lunch and transition periods makes enforcement harder at the middle grades.

Several principals and administrators described how another district, Warren County, collects and stores devices each morning and returns them at the end of the day using locked storage hardware; board members heard that approach is effective but costly. An administrator who described implementing a low‑cost collection system in her prior district said the program used labeled clear tubs and gallon ziplock bags and that staff stored device bags in a locked testing room until afternoon distribution. "We bought just the big giant tubs with the lids," she said, adding that morning collection initially took longer but that the process became faster with practice.

Board members and administrators discussed exceptions that remain in the policy: use for medical needs, devices required by Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or Section 504 plans, and teacher‑authorized instructional uses. The board also directed staff to include communication plans for emergencies so families can contact students when devices are not accessible; staff noted school email, Remind and other district messaging systems can be used.

Concerns surfaced about secondary‑school implementation: collection and redistribution across many classrooms and staggered dismissals for athletics or work programs could create extra staff workload. Supporters stressed that the district already provides 1:1 Chromebooks and that the policy seeks to curb cheating, inappropriate photos and cyberbullying during instructional time.

After the 4–2 vote adopting 6.312(b) as written, the board approved the broader packet of policy revisions from the Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA) in a single vote and directed staff to prepare public notices and training for faculty and families before the next school year. The board chair and staff said they will publicize how families can communicate with students during the school day and will include the exceptions required by state law in those notices.

The board will revisit implementation details, including storage options and cost estimates, at its July meeting so schools and staff have time to prepare before students return.