Beaufort County students start school Friday, which is two days later than scheduled due to Tropical Storm Debby. And when they return, they’ll start with a new rule: a policy barring cell phones from the classroom that teachers will enforce.
Students, parents and teachers in the area haven’t navigated this rule before and the district’s one-page explanation of the policy left some questions unanswered. The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette interviewed Superintendent Frank Rodriguez to clarify enforcement details.
“It is going to be a difficult transition for a little while,” Rodriguez said. “In the end, my gut feeling is that kids will probably welcome the fact to not be connected to (their phones).”
The only general exception to the rule allows high school students to use their phones during their lunch period. Otherwise, during the school day, phones must be “turned off and stored in a locker, pocket, purse, backpack, or other non-visible location,” according to the policy.
If Beaufort County schools didn’t implement the cell phone policy, state policy would soon require the schools to restrict use based on state policy.
The South Carolina Board of Education is writing a statewide policy that public school districts will soon have to adopt. Rodriguez said they could see the state guidance as soon as January 2025.
The first time a student uses their phone when they’re not allowed to, it will be taken away until the end of the day, according to the district’s code of conduct. The same goes for all infractions after that.
“Teachers can ask for the device,” Rodriguez said. “If there’s a refusal to do that, then an administrator will step in and take care of that.”
The discipline plan escalates if students break the rule more than once.
At the end of the day, students can pick up their confiscated device on a first infraction, but parents must pick up the phone on subsequent violations. On third, fourth and fifth violations, students could get in-school suspension. On fifth, sixth and seventh violations, students could get out-of-school suspension.
Students who use their phones when they’re not allowed to will be disciplined according to the above Progressive Discipline Plan. Beaufort County Public Schools
Where will confiscated phones be kept?
Phones will be held in a secure place, so students shouldn’t worry about someone else accessing their phone, according to Rodriguez.
He said there isn’t a defined location for the school to keep confiscated phones, like a drawer or basket.
“It’s a matter of separating the device from the student,” Rodriguez said. “Once it’s confiscated, then it will be transferred to an administrator who can deal with it at the school site.”
Are there any personal exceptions?
There are medical exceptions, which will be handled on a case-by-case basis, according to Rodriguez.
How can students request a medical exception?
Parents and guardians can reach out to their school’s administrator.
What about field trips?
Phones are not allowed on field trips, including the buses to and from the field trip.
“Once the school day has begun, then field trips are part of a regular school day,” Rodriguez said.
What about on the bus to and from school?
Students can use their phones before and after the school day, including on the buses.
What about emergency communication?
Students can let their teacher know they need to speak with a parent and then will be able to use the school’s office phone.
Parents can call the office, which will deliver the message to their students.
“It’s just like when I was in school,” Rodriguez said. “There weren’t cell phones. We had arrangements and procedures to go to the office.”
Is the district concerned about liability?
Rodriguez said that school staff will see if anything should be reported during school, and reiterated that students can still have their phones on them in case of an absolute emergency.
“They just have to put it away,” he said. “We’re not taking it from them when they walk in the door.”
Students can use phones before or after school if an accident or injury happens when staff can’t always be watching.
What about between classes?
Phones aren’t allowed between classes and teachers outside classroom doorways will enforce the rule.
This story was originally published August 8, 2024 at 2:11 PM.
Mary Dimitrov is the Hilton Head Island and real estate reporter for The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette. A Maryland native, she has spent time reporting in Maryland and the U.S. Senate for McClatchy’s Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She won numerous South Carolina Press Association awards, including honors in education beat reporting, growth and development beat reporting, investigative reporting and more.
