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Committee advances resolution urging PGCPS to update classroom cell-phone guidance
Summary
The Prince George's County Council Education Workforce Development Committee voted 5-0 Oct. 28 to move draft 2 of CR‑95‑2024, a nonbinding resolution encouraging the school board and PGCPS to revisit classroom cell-phone guidelines and social-media controls.
The Education Workforce Development Committee voted 5‑0 to move forward draft 2 of Council Resolution 95‑2024, a nonbinding measure encouraging the Prince George's County Board of Education and Prince George's County Public Schools to update classroom cell‑phone guidelines.
Council Member Orianna moved the measure and the motion was seconded; the clerk recorded a 5‑0 tally. Council members said they supported the resolution as a starting point to prompt conversation with school officials. “I have the hesitation about how this would work, but I do realize that this is the resolution to have the conversation,” Council Member Orianna said while explaining her aye vote.
PGCPS Superintendent House told the committee the issue extends beyond phones to social media and described task‑force work and local pilots. “I do view this, and it's not just cell phones. It's also social media,” Superintendent House said, adding that community feedback so far had not shown strong support for an outright ban.
Office of Law cautioned the committee about form and authority, saying the council’s remit does not include prescribing school discipline policy: “policies are under the authority of the Prince George's County School Board,” counsel told the committee. County administration said it had “no position” on the resolution.
Committee sponsors and school staff discussed implementation trade‑offs, including whether smart watches, earbuds and other devices would be covered; Superintendent House described pilots that use pouches to hold student phones and allow limited access at lunchtime. Vice Chair Watson and other members pressed for plans to ensure parents retain reliable ways to contact children in emergencies.
Although the resolution itself is encouraging rather than prescriptive, committee members said they wanted a path for the broader conversation to include parents, principals and the school system’s IT and safety staff. The measure will advance for further consideration consistent with committee procedure.
