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School district to weigh ban on student cell phones after state memo
Summary
District leaders told the board they received a recent state memorandum urging stricter limits on student cell phones and are awaiting guidance from SCASA before changing local rules; administrators said routine searches are not planned and details will follow once the state’s guidance is clear.
The superintendent (identified in the meeting transcript as the speaker presenting the superintendent’s report) told the Bamberg County School District board that the district received a recent memorandum urging tighter limits on student cell phones and that administrators are awaiting guidance from SCASA before adopting new local rules.
“We will be looking for updated policies to be forthcoming … from SCASA to give us some guidance on cell phone new cell phone policies,” the superintendent said, noting the district currently regulates electronic communications under policy JI (electronic communications).
A board member asked whether a student who keeps a phone turned off in a backpack would be prohibited. The superintendent said the district is waiting for the state’s guidance and that staff would not make a practice of searching students’ bags, saying searches typically occur only when a phone is used or becomes an issue.
The item was informational: the board did not adopt a new policy at the meeting and the superintendent said the district would provide updated policy recommendations after SCASA issues its guidance.
