Washington Co., Va. Schools talks commonwealth’s move to limit cellphones in classroom

ABINGDON, Va. (WJHL) — The Commonwealth of Virginia is set to restrict cellphone use in schools, citing concerns about students spending too much time in front of screens.

Gov. Youngkin signed an Executive Order on Monday to establish cellphone-free classrooms in all K-12 public schools in Virginia. News Channel 11 spoke with Washington County, Virginia Public Schools about the impending change.

“There’s a lot of really scary data out there right now,” said district Superintendent Keith Perrigan. “That came out with this book, “The Anxious Generation,” that really connects the decline in the mental health of adolescents in America to their use of cellphones and the apps and social media opportunities that those cell phones provide.”

He and other leaders felt that it was best to look into ways to keep cellphones operational for educational assistance only during school hours. Perrigan said the school district won’t ban cellphones altogether but will keep enforcing and updating its current limitations on cellphones in schools.

“Cellphones, even though they have a lot of convenience and a lot of good things about them, too, for kids, especially kids who are using them at too young of an age when they’re not mature enough to handle everything that goes along with it, it can have very severe consequences on their mental health and sometimes even, unfortunately, even their safety.”

Washington County teacher and parent Haley Viers said she’s seen the distraction of cell phones firsthand in the classroom.

“When they’re on their phone instead of doing their work, causing drama between peers and with social media and so forth,” Viers said.

“Causing fights and bullying, cyberbullying. So [it] definitely affects mental health.”

Viers said having more enforcement at the state level makes it easier for teachers to enforce at the district level.

“Even though it’s a rule [not to] have them out during instructional time, kids will still try to sneak them out. So having the state back you up will be definitely helpful as a teacher.”

Perrigan said his district plans to run a “pilot” test to determine what’s most effective, but it will still allow students to keep their devices.

“Where students will turn their cell phones in when they come to school, and we’ll give them a magnetic pouch [to lock them in]. And at the end of the day, then we can unlock that magnet. And that way they maintain possession of their cell phone throughout the day, But they really don’t have access to it.”

Perrigan added that school leaders are also strategizing on the best way to allow students or schools to communicate with parents and guardians in emergency cases.

Washington County Public Schools will look into data at its August board meeting about why and how it needs to re-look into the policy.

“And then after that, start having some stakeholder groups to provide ideas and suggestions about how we can change and implement the policy effectively.”

Perrigan anticipates changes will be made to the district’s policy by Nov. or Dec. Gov. Youngkin wants the new statewide policies to be in effect by Jan. 2025.

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