Colleton County board adopts policy banning phone use during instructional day; buses, extracurriculars exempted

The Colleton County School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously Dec. 10 to adopt a revised policy (JICJ) that bars student use of electronic communication devices during the instructional day while allowing phones on school buses and at extracurricular events.

The change, approved as a second reading after board discussion, updates the district’s existing phone rules to align with a state proviso the board said requires prohibition of phone use during instruction. The adopted text removes a previously listed set of numbered offenses and says violations will be handled under the district’s progressive-discipline plan.

The policy drew public input from a Colleton County High School student, who told the board she and classmates were told phones would be banned on school property and said that prohibition raised practical concerns. “If we can’t have our phones…