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Webster County board to publicize new state cell-phone law, leaves final vote to August meeting
Summary
Board members debated how to notify families about a new West Virginia house bill on student personal electronic devices, discussed whether to allow sixth graders to keep phones at school, and agreed to wide public notice while deferring formal adoption until the next posted meeting.
The Webster County Board of Education discussed how to notify families about a new West Virginia house bill that governs student personal electronic devices and agreed to begin public outreach while leaving formal policy adoption to a later meeting.
Staff member raised the issue and said the board should not wait until Aug. 11 to inform families, arguing the timing was too late for some preparations: "I don't want kids and parents and families to get blindsided and say, well, we didn't even know," the staff member said, and proposed sending information about the pending policy "as pending board approval." The staff member noted the district had the option to meet the state's notice requirements using social media and local news, or to do a countywide mailing at additional cost.
The board debated whether to allow sixth graders to carry phones at school. One board member said the high-school sports argument supports allowing phones for sixth-graders who play on junior-high teams, but other board members expressed concern and urged caution. "Right now, unless you all convince me different, I'm against putting the 6th graders," one member said.
Board members discussed notification logistics and cost. The staff member said a mass mailing would cost about $0.74 per household and estimated a full county mailing might be "approximately $814." The staff member also suggested targeted materials (flyers, social media posts, press notices) and a possible work session to finalize the approach before school starts.
To preserve the 30-day public-comment period, staff proposed moving the board's August meeting date so the board could legally take a vote before students return. The board agreed to schedule additional meetings in August to ensure adequate notice; staff said it would publish information as "pending board approval" and pursue social and print notices ahead of the formal vote.
The board did not adopt a final change to the policy at the July 28 meeting; staff said it would prepare outreach materials and a plan for distribution and bring the formal policy back to the board at the next posted meeting.
