Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Mercer County Schools board starts rollout of state‑required ban on phones during instruction
Summary
Board members directed administrators to draft a clear, uniform policy to implement a state rule that prohibits student possession of cell phones during instructional time; discussion centered on secure classroom boxes, discipline tiers, parent communications and edge cases such as smart watches and medical exceptions.
The Mercer County Board of Education on Aug. 15 began formalizing how the district will implement a new state rule that prohibits student possession of cell phones during instructional time, directing administrators to draft a uniform policy and a parent‑communications plan.
Board Chair led the discussion and told staff, “cell phones will not be allowed in classrooms during instructional time. Period.” Administrators and principals spent much of the meeting assessing practical options — from student lockers to classroom lockboxes — and debating how enforcement and consequences should work in practice.
Why it matters: Board members said the presence of phones disrupts instruction and contributes to student mental‑health and safety concerns. Administrators noted…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
