The Pickens County School Board took two policy steps related to student conduct and electronic devices after the Georgia General Assembly enacted the Distraction Free Education Act (House Bill 340).

Superintendent Dr. Thomas briefed the board on HB 340, which he said "prohibits cell phones and electronic devices in grades K–8 in all public schools, Georgia." Citing the statute's deadlines, the administration proposed adding policy JCDAF to the district policy manual and asked the board to formally place the proposed policy on the table until the August meeting for final adoption; the motion to hold the policy until August passed on a voice vote.

In parallel, the board approved the district's 2025–26 code of conduct, which administrators said would operationalize expectations for students. The administration also stated an intent to begin implementing the device restrictions this fall in K–8 even though the state law requires districts to adopt a conforming policy by Jan. 1, 2026 and implement it by July 1, 2026.

Why it matters: The policy change moves a common local practice in elementary schools into formal policy and creates new compliance obligations for K–8 students and families. Administrators asked for parental support enforcing the device rules.

Details and follow-ups
- The policy addition will be presented again for a binding vote in August; the administration requested local parents and guardians help enforce the change in the interim.
- The board approved the 2025–26 Code of Conduct at the meeting by motion and voice vote.

The board chair recorded the votes as "all in favor" for both the motion to table the policy until August and the motion to approve the code of conduct. Administrators said they will notify families of the device rule and the Code of Conduct implementation schedule.