VBCPS holds no-phone policy session at Kempsville High School; 1st of 3 sessions

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) is holding its first of three sessions Wednesday night about the divisions ‘Cell Phone-Free Education in Virginia’ policy.

VBCPS is following Governor Glenn Youngkin’s executive order to have phone-free education in all K-12 public schools in the state . The executive order recognizes the impact phones have on students’ mental health and the dependence on cell phones in schools.

The first of the three ‘Family Connection’ sessions will be at Kempsville High School Oct. 16, starting at 6 p.m. The superintendent and senior leadership of VBCPS will answer questions and clarify the new policy to help answer any questions about this transition for students, parents and staff.

Youngkin’s order does not have to be implemented until Jan. 1, but VBCPS has been engaging in this discussion for some time. The school system already has a ban on cell phones and all personal devices that can connect to the internet during instructional periods.

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) released its “Final Guidance” last month, which defines phone-free education in public schools as “bell-to-bell.”

This means phones will be required to be turned off and stored away from the time the bell rings at the beginning of school, until the final bell rings for dismissal. This includes during lunch and in between classes.

Parents are encouraged to submit any questions they have before the event.

The session will be at Kempsville High School and will be for families and staff that go to Green Run High, Green Run Collegiate, Kempsville High School, Salem High School and Tallwood High School.

Here are the upcoming sessions:

• 6-7 p.m. Oct. 23, Princess Anne High School (for families and staff at Bayside High, Cox High, First Colonial High, Princess Anne High, and An Achievable Dream Academy-Lynnhaven)
• 6-7 p.m. Oct. 30, Kellam High School (for families and staff at Kellam High, Landstown High and Ocean Lakes High)

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