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Manassas Park board adopts state‑mandated ‘cell‑phone‑free’ policy, vows clarifications
Summary
The Manassas Park school board approved a second‑reading 'cell phone free education' policy to meet a state deadline, passing the measure 4–1. Board members asked administrators to return with clearer language defining 'emergency' and other ambiguous sections at a January follow‑up meeting.
The Manassas Park City Public Schools board voted to adopt a second‑reading draft of a district policy limiting student use of cell phones and portable electronic devices, a measure board staff said was necessary to meet a state requirement due Jan. 1. Dr. Marbury presented the policy and asked the board to take action.
"The updated, second reading draft of the policy is attached in the agenda, and I'm happy to request for you all to take action tonight," Dr. Marbury said before the vote. A board member moved and another seconded the motion; the chair called the question and recorded that the motion passed by a 4–1 margin.
Board members noted that action‑item rules limit debate before a vote but reserved the right to refine the policy later. Stacy Seiberling said the policy’s exception for emergencies is "not really defined" and that "everyone's definition of emergency situation is very different," urging the board to add clearer guidance so staff, parents and students interpret it consistently.
District staff responded that the board was required to adopt a policy by the state deadline but that the board can amend policy at any time through the normal first‑reading/second‑reading process. A staff member said the board plans to put suggested edits on the Jan. 27 agenda so the policy can be revisited after the deadline.
The board did not record a roll‑call list of individual votes in the transcript; district staff summarized the outcome as 4 in favor and 1 opposed. The board emphasized that the adoption meets the immediate state mandate and that administrators will circulate suggested clarifications on definitions and implementation procedures for a subsequent meeting.
