VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – It’s a discussion that has been happening for months — Virginia Beach City Public Schools cell phone-free policy has a new change.
For the 2024-25 school year, all students were not allowed to use their phones during the school day, but high school students were able to bring them out when they went to eat.
Recently, the school board voted to ban cell phone use during lunch for high schoolers. VBCPS has one lunch for high schoolers, which allows them to leave the cafeteria to get tutoring help or participate in extracurricular activities for 50 minutes.
During the meeting, Chief of Schools Officer Matt Delaney presented the data for cell phone violations in the 2024-2025 school year. The numbers rose four times compared to the previous year, adding that the majority of the violations were at the high school level.
There were more than 6,600 violations. Breaking those numbers down would be two-per high school each day. But Delaney says they were expecting those numbers.
“We were not surprised by the increase in number as a result of that. We also have some kind of qualitative or anecdotal data where we walk in the schools, and we did see kids generally more compliant with the cell phone regulation versus what the data shows,” said Delaney.
The high numbers were not the main reason why the school board decided to ban the phones during lunchtime. But Delaney said she want VBCPS to align with the state law that goes into effect at the beginning of July.
“We have traditionally not gone against executive orders or anything that comes down from the video. We haven’t done that on either side, and we’re just leery of some of that slope that could occur as a result of it,” said Delaney.
With the Bell-to-Bell Law, the school board members debated if the rules required them to not allow phones during lunch.
“I certainly wish there were no ambiguity in the language, right, because that would have been really nice,” said school board member Kimberly Melnyk.
Many members expressed that the language in the policy is not clearly stated.
“It seems like we’re waiting for clarification on the terms of what actually compliance means,” said Matt Cummings, a school board member.
Other members added that they were struggling to agree with these rules since it was not specifically stated by the Virginia Department of Education to ban phones during lunchtime.
“I’m struggling, but I just like to say that I hope that as we are leaning into this change, you will lean into it when my students have to go to the office with an urgent matter and they can use the landline and see how long the line [will] become,” said Sharon Felton, school board member.
Despite the confusing language, the members voted 8-3 to put the ban into place.
“State law requires that the students will not have it, and I think that’s an important thing during instructional time. And whereas this past school year we gave grace, I think, with allowing [during] the one lunch. So right now we are in a place where, I mean, we really don’t have a choice but to follow the law,” said Dr. Alveta Green.
The Bell-to-Bell Cell Phone-Free Education will take place July 1.
“We will work through the summer in terms of how we’re communicating those expectations out to families and work with our principals,” said Delaney.
Melnyk says she knows not all parents will agree, but will need help from the school system with this new decision.
“We’ve made a decision as a board; this is the law, and we need your help in this part of our high school redesign,” said Melnyk.
10 On Your Side reached out to all the members for more information. Chair of VBCPS Kathleen Brown’s response can be found below:
At the June 24th School Board meeting, much discussion took place regarding the division’s cell phone policy—particularly the use of phones during lunch periods in high schools.
Vice-Chair Carolyn Weems introduced a substitute motion to remove language allowing high school students to use phones during lunch. I believe this change will ensure compliance with Virginia’s new law (§ 22.1-79.3:1), which takes effect on July 1, 2025. This motion passed with a vote of 8-3.
Superintendent Dr. Donald Robertson has confirmed that families will receive communication in August outlining the updated expectations for student cell phone use. This will also include guidance on how parents and guardians can reach their children during emergencies. As a parent of two high school students myself, I’ll be paying close attention to these upcoming communications and encourage other families to do the same.
Kathleen Brown
Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.