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Maury County board discusses new state cellphone law and possible in‑school restrictions; vote delayed for model policy review
Summary
Board members debated restricting student cellphone use during instructional time, with some advocating for a bell‑to‑bell ban and others citing safety, medical and practical concerns; the board agreed to revisit a draft policy at the April work session and await a TSBA model policy and the governor’s signature.
Board members spent an extended portion of the work session debating school policy on student cellphone use after tracking recent state legislation. Comments ranged from support for a strict "bell‑to‑bell" restriction to concerns about safety, medical exceptions and enforceability.
Supporters of a tight restriction cited evidence linking reduced phone use to improved student focus and classroom behavior, and said examples from other districts showed improved social interaction when phones were restricted. "I really think it would be best if they were not allowed in school," one board member said. Another board member described pockets or check‑in systems used in some districts to collect phones at the start of the day.
Opponents and cautious voices said a complete campus ban is difficult to enforce and could hinder emergency communication for families and students with medical needs. "Banning them from the premise is a pretty hard no go. That's just for a safety issue," the board chair said, adding that parents rely on phones to reach students in some circumstances. Several board members also noted that existing school rules already prohibit improper use and that tighter consequences and clearer tracking could be a workable intermediate step.
Board members asked legal and operational questions about medical-device exceptions, IEP/504 accommodations, and parental notification requirements included in the pending state bill; a board member summarized provisions in the bill that allow limited use for emergencies, health needs and IEP/504 students and require the district to establish parent‑notification procedures. Staff said the Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA) model policy had not been released yet and advised waiting for TSBA guidance.
The board agreed to delay any final vote and asked Board Member Babcock to draft a proposed policy for review; members agreed to place the issue on the April work session agenda to review Babcock’s draft alongside the forthcoming TSBA model policy and the governor’s signature status. Staff said any implementation would target the 2025–26 school year to allow time for parent notification and administrative preparation.
Ending — next steps: Board Member Babcock will work with staff and TSBA on draft policy language; the board scheduled the topic for the April work session and indicated it would not immediately alter enforcement during the current school year.
