NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – Norfolk School Board members are expected to vote towards a cell phone ban on Wednesday.
The vote comes just a week after Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) voted to allow high school students to use phones during lunch.
New VBCPS cell phone-free policy much like current one
The new policy will ban phone usage in schools from bell to bell — complying with Governor Glenn Youngkin’s Executive Order 33 , which promotes cell phone-free education across all schools in Virginia starting on Jan. 1, 2025.
Parents like cell phone ban, with reservations
On Dec. 4, the school board discussed how they would implement the policy. During their meeting, Chief Academic Officer James Pohl said they sent a round of surveys to parents in the area in order to get their take on the topic.
Norfolk school board discusses cell phone policy
A majority of the responding parents stated they understand the need for the policy, but said they do want their children to have their phones during hall changes and during lunch time — however, the Executive Order does not allow for that leniency.