PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Pinellas County School leaders are considering implementing a more restrictive cell phone policy for the entire district.
Florida state law prohibits banning cell phones, but school leaders can decide what students do with their cell phones when at school.
During a workshop Tuesday, Leaders with Pinellas County Schools discussed recommendations that would be implemented based on the grade of students.
In elementary schools, devices would be required to be off during the school day. Students would only be permitted to use phones after school to arrange transportation.
In middle schools, students would be permitted to use devices before or after school. During school, phones would be required to be turned off.
Students would be required to have devices stored away in places such as their pocket, bookbag, locker, lunchbag, or in any non visible location. Teachers could also have a designated area to store devices.
The same would also apply to earbuds and similar devices, school leaders said they should not be seen during the school day.
High school students would be required to keep wireless communication devices in the silent mode or off position during instructional time within all class periods. In addition, students would be permitted to use their wireless communication devices before and after the instructional school day, during lunch and when transitioning between classes.
The exception would be earbuds, which would not allowed during the day, only before and after school.
District leaders are making the recommendation that students be able to use smart watches during the day, but not for the purposes of texting or making phone calls.
About 5,000 parents, 2,000 district employees, and 600 students responded to a survey asking what they thought would work best.
The results showed that most people would prefer middle and high schoolers to use their phones if teachers gave permission or in special circumstances like medical needs.
The survey revealed most people think elementary school students should not be allowed to use their phones at all during school, including during lunch and between classes.
A first reading is scheduled for April 23, a second reading is schedule for June 11, and an information campaign kickoff is scheduled for August 2024. The plan would be implemented in the fall.