Central Virginia schools back in session, new cell phone policy enforcement begins
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- After an extended winter break due to inclement weather and the Richmond water crisis, most public schools in Central Virginia are back in session -- meaning new cell phone policies are being rolled out. Richmond City Public Schools (RPS) will follow a bell-to-bell policy, which means that from the first bell of the day to the last, phones must be out of sight. All cell phones must be stored away and not in the students’ possession. As for disciplinary action, RPS will follow a tiered approach. This means students will get warnings, but disciplinary action increases each time a student is caught with their phone. The first time a student is caught on their phone, a verbal warning will be given and the incident will be documented by the school. The second will be a written warning and a call home. By the third time, it gets more serious with the chance of in or out of school suspension. For severe violations, such as using a phone to bully or engage in illegal activities, could call for immediate confiscation, suspension and the involvement of law-enforcement. The Richmond School Board voted unanimously to adopt this cell phone policy back in November, and they aren't the only school system in Central Virginia combatting cell phone use. Hanover County will also be following a bell-to-bell complete ban on cell phones, something Chesterfield County Public Schools has been enforcing since the beginning of the school year. Hopewell City Schools are taking the policy even one step further, banning all cell phones, tablets and e-readers, personal (non-HCPS) laptops and Chromebooks, handheld gaming systems and consoles, smart watches and Bluetooth devices, including headphones during school. Henrico County is a bit more lenient with its cell phone policy which has been enforced since the beginning of the school year. Students are allowed to use their phones during lunch and between classes. During the Virginia General Assembly, a bill will be voted on to find educational ways students can use their cell phones at school. If passed, it would leave it up to counties' school boards to decide if they want to follow this and what kind of usage is age appropriate for different grade levels.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- After an extended winter break due to inclement weather and the Richmond water crisis, most public schools in Central Virginia are back in session -- meaning new cell phone policies are being rolled out.
Richmond City Public Schools (RPS) will follow a bell-to-bell policy, which means that from the first bell of the day to the last, phones must be out of sight. All cell phones must be stored away and not in the students’ possession.
As for disciplinary action, RPS will follow a tiered approach. This means students will get warnings, but disciplinary action increases each time a student is caught with their phone.
The first time a student is caught on their phone, a verbal warning will be given and the incident will be documented by the school. The second will be a written warning and a call home. By the third time, it gets more serious with the chance of in or out of school suspension.
For severe violations, such as using a phone to bully or engage in illegal activities, could call for immediate confiscation, suspension and the involvement of law-enforcement.
The Richmond School Board voted unanimously to adopt this cell phone policy back in November, and they aren't the only school system in Central Virginia combatting cell phone use.
Hanover County will also be following a bell-to-bell complete ban on cell phones, something Chesterfield County Public Schools has been enforcing since the beginning of the school year.
Hopewell City Schools are taking the policy even one step further, banning all cell phones, tablets and e-readers, personal (non-HCPS) laptops and Chromebooks, handheld gaming systems and consoles, smart watches and Bluetooth devices, including headphones during school.
Henrico County is a bit more lenient with its cell phone policy which has been enforced since the beginning of the school year. Students are allowed to use their phones during lunch and between classes.
During the Virginia General Assembly, a bill will be voted on to find educational ways students can use their cell phones at school. If passed, it would leave it up to counties' school boards to decide if they want to follow this and what kind of usage is age appropriate for different grade levels.
