The county school board convened on September 3 to review plans for complying with Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s Executive Order 33, which bans cell phone use during instructional hours—a move that has sparked considerable debate among educators.
Schools Superintendent Dr. Amy Blake-Lewis outlined the order’s focus on curbing cell phone use to address concerns over mental health and social media addiction among students. “The executive order aims to eliminate cell phone use during instructional time and address the mental health issues arising from children’s social media and cell phone addiction,” Blake-Lewis explained.
Blake-Lewis presented detailed guidelines to ensure clarity for board members, teachers, parents, and students. “I have broken down the guidelines as defined by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) for elementary, middle, and high school levels,” she said.
Under the new guidelines, cell phone restrictions will vary slightly by school level but will remain in effect during instructional hours. “Cell phones or communication devices will not be used by elementary students within the school building or on school grounds,” Blake-Lewis said. Parents are advised to keep phones off and stored during educational hours and use school-based communication channels for emergencies.
Middle school students will face similar restrictions during the school day but may use phones during after-school activities and sports events. “Students will need to store their phones during class time, though there will be some flexibility for after-school activities,” Blake-Lewis noted. She emphasized the need for developmentally appropriate guidance on using school-issued technology.
High school students will also need to store their phones during instructional hours, with usage permitted before and after school. Blake-Lewis highlighted that staff, including educators and extracurricular sponsors, must also refrain from using social media for communication.
Board members discussed potential storage solutions for phones, with suggestions including classroom pouches and locking pouches. “I would like guidance on the liability involved if we take phones from students and store them in pouches,” Cherie Whitlow said.
Stephanie Brinegar asked about potential consequences for violations of the new policy. Blake-Lewis responded that there were no specific recommendations from the VDOE yet, leaving it to local policy to determine consequences.
Blake-Lewis encouraged parents to provide feedback on the policy through a survey available at [https://virginiadoe.gov1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2aSPBWzp5MJ2w1E](https://virginiadoe.gov1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2aSPBWzp5MJ2w1E).
Additionally, the board approved a $244,350 appropriation for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program for elementary schools. The board is also considering revisions to several school policies, with updates expected at the October 3 meeting.
