Giles County board adopts stricter cell-phone policy (6.312) on first reading as emergency

Giles County School Board members voted on Aug. 5 to adopt an updated wireless communication devices policy (6.312) on first reading, with board members directing that wireless devices be off during the school day for grades K–12 and violations treated as level-1 code-of-conduct offenses.

Board members and several principals who spoke during the meeting noted that polling of principals favored turning devices off for the school day. Principals reported the policy has been well received during the first days of school in their buildings and emphasized consistent morning announcements and teacher enforcement. Some board members raised the possibility of allowing high-school students access to phones at lunch; other members warned that permitting phones at lunch risks reintroducing distractions that the policy seeks to reduce.

The board discussed whether school buses should be explicitly covered by the policy. Multiple members and administrators said bus transportation is an extension of the school day and recommended adding language clarifying that phones are not for use on school buses unless the driver permits them in emergencies. The board also agreed the policy will refer to the district's level-1 code-of-conduct consequences (confiscation for the day; parent/guardian conference; in-school or after-school detention; escalation on repeated offenses).

Because the item had not been fully vetted at the work session and the new state law requires changes, staff proposed approving the policy on first reading as an emergency so it would take effect sooner; the motion to approve first reading was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. Staff said the board can re-evaluate details at the work session and finalize code-of-conduct language in October.

The transcript does not show a roll-call vote tally by name; the motion passed on a voice vote.