NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Discussion of a future cell phone ban in the classroom was a part of the Norfolk School Board’s work session Wednesday.
The school division, along with others in Virginia, must adhere to Executive Order 33 issued by Gov. Glenn Youngkin to ban cell phones in the classroom, bell-to-bell, starting next year.
In a video released by Norfolk Public Schools Monday, the school division outlined the policy that will bring cell phone-free education to the school system.
The policy states “all of Norfolk Public Schools will be cell phone-free “from bell-to-bell” beginning on January 1, 2025.” Students who bring a cell phone to school must power it off and store it in their bags at all times during the school day, including during lunch and in-between classes.
“A personal electronic device is considered any personal device capable of making calls, transmitting pictures or video and sending messages through electronic means,” Dr. Mike Cataldo, from the Office of Student Support and Safety, said during the video.
On Wednesday, a work session for the school board included a discussion about the topic.
“I’m just making sure that [we] as a board, as a school, [have] done the right thing to get as many people involved as possible,” said school board member Ken Paulson.
Chief Academic Officer Dr. James Pohl explained that the school division has been sending surveys to families for weeks asking them what they think about the policy. So far, he said they’ve gotten more than 600 responses and are hoping for more.
“There were five categories, [including] safety and emergency concerns, which had 61 of the comments; distraction and academic focus, with 98 of the comments; compromise and moderation, with 265 of the comments, which shows you a lot,” Pohl said. “And really, in that area, the majority of the comments were ‘Totally get it, don’t want it during the classroom, but really want it during hall changes, in the cafeteria.'”
Pohl added that, before students head home for the holiday break, they’ll get information about the policy.
He also explained how the enforcement process will work to the board.
“The first offense is a verbal warning [and] communicat[ing] it with the parent or the guardian and entered into Synergy,” Pohl said.
The second offense is a written warning, something sent home, communicated with parent or guardian and again entered into Synergy. “On the third offense, the cell phone’s confiscated, or the device is confiscated, and it can be returned to the parent or to the student at the end of the school day, [also] entered into Synergy. Fourth offense confiscated, and then it’s entered into Synergy, but a parent has to pick it up.”
Some board members expressed their appreciation for how things have looked so far.
“I’m really a supporter of this policy and the bell-to-bell,” said school board member Dr. Adale Martin. “We talked about the educational component, that being on their phones being distracted, but there’s also the mental health and physical health component.”
Other board members expressed concerns.
“Is our infrastructure strong enough to do all the things that some of our students are using their phones for instructional purposes, before we start putting this in place,” said school board member Tanya Bhasin.
The board is expected to vote on the measure at their Dec. 18 meeting.
WAVY also confirmed the Virginia Beach City Public Schools will hold a vote on its cell phone policy on December 10, 2025.