BENNETTSVILLE—The Marlboro County School District Board of Trustees adopted a policy to prohibit the use of personal electronic devices during the school day at Monday’s board meeting.
In September the state board of education passed a policy that prohibits phones and connected devices such as smartwatches from being in use during the school day. According to the state policy, districts must require students to keep their phones and connected devices, such as smartwatches, turned off and in their backpacks or lockers from the time the first bell rings in the morning until the dismissal bell in the afternoon.
The policy also gives local districts the flexibility to have stricter rules than what the state requires.
MCSD will prohibit the use of personal electronic devices except for items that are needed for a medical necessity. If a student has an electronic device that used for medical reasons and needs to be authorized for classroom usage, it has to be in writing.
The approval has to be approved by the superintendent or a designee. “The approval must include alignment with a standards-aligned educational objective that cannot be reasonably achieved using district-owned devices.”
The district has the right to revoke the use of approved electronics at any time if the device is not being used for its intended educational purposes or if the use of the device causes a distraction in the classroom.
There are other exemptions to the ban, including a student who is a member of a volunteer firefighting or emergency organization or if it is required by the student’s IEP, Medical Plan, or 504 Plan.
The district is required to implement that policy in order to receive state funds allocated for state aid to classrooms.
MCSD superintendent Helena Tillar said the policy, which has been shared with the high school, will go into effect at the end of the month district-wide.
In other business, the board approved $1,5oo bonuses for qualified employees. The first payment will go out in November.
Tillar gave a briefing on a successful homecoming celebration and encouraged the public to take part in the T-Mobile Friday Night Lights contest. Marlboro County High School has a chance to win a $2 million upgrade to the football field. Take a picture in Bulldog gear post it to Instagram, tag @TMobile, and use the hashtags #FN5GL #Sweepstakes.