School board members recently visited high schools across Virginia Beach to gather student feedback on the district’s new cellphone policy.
The updated policy comes after Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued Executive Order 33, which called for “cellphone-free education” in public schools across the state.
As part of this series of visits, Virginia Beach Superintendent Dr. Donald Robertson and school board members visited Ocean Lakes on Nov. 22, 2024, to speak with students.
Darcy Pohl’s third block AP U.S. History class was among the classrooms visited, with school board members Beverly Anderson and Michael Callan in attendance.
“I asked the students to give their perspectives, opinions and solution ideas in each class,” Anderson said.
Students in Pohl’s class expressed their thoughts on what should be included in the new policy, and one main concern focused on safety measures during emergencies.
“Phones are not just for entertainment; they are for safety,” junior Joshua Lauck said. “Phones allow immediate access to the outside world, and at a time when gun threats are happening multiple times per year in Virginia Beach schools, banning them is a bad idea.”
Questions also arose about how students will communicate with parents and coaches.
“I have sports after school, and my coach often changes time, cancels or changes where we will be practicing,” junior Bella Rivers said. “I also sometimes forget things like my Chromebook or things I need after school, so it’s much easier to just ask my mom if she can bring it rather than have to go to the front desk and call home.”
Recent discussion arose surrounding the possibility of allowing cellphones during lunch.
“Overall, most students said they could follow our policy if they were allowed to have their phones turned on to check for messages at lunch since they felt that lunch is not during instructional time,” Anderson said.
This issue was at the forefront of the conversation at the school board meeting on Nov. 26, 2024.
Robertson stressed VBCPS’ commitment to following the guidance from the state, and he stated that he believed any such concessions of allowing cellphones during lunch would be revisited.
“I assumed that [allowing cellphone access during lunch] would end because it’s not consistent with applicable law and regulations,” Robertson said during the meeting.
The district’s updated policy will go to the school board for a vote on Dec. 10, 2024.
