South Carolina Schools Superintendent Responds to Concerns Over Cellphone Ban’s Impact on Emergencies

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Upcoming Ban on Cellphone Use In Schools Raises Questions

South Carolina’s public school students are facing imminent statewide restrictions on cellphone use. The ban, dictated by the General Assembly, stipulates that students won’t be allowed to use their cellphones from morning tardy bell to afternoon dismissal.

This policy now poses a question mark for all districts in the state, considering its incorporation could determine their future state funding. Although the State Board of Education ratified the guideline details this week, concerns arose during Tuesday’s board meeting regarding this move.

Statewide Cellphone Ban Sparks Emergency Concerns

Fears surrounding emergencies, particularly in the wake of the tragic high school shooting in Georgia on Wednesday, surfaced in the meeting. Lexington parent, Brian Petrano, highlighted how Georgia’s Uvalde students could bid farewell to their parents using their cellphones. “Just don’t ban them totally,” Petrano urged the board, expressing concerns for a complete ban.

While state policy bans student cellphone usage during bell hours, each local school district will determine where students can store their phones during school hours. These storage options may include backpacks, lockers, or other locations. However, it is up to the individual districts if they want to ban all devices, including tablets, smartwatches, and gaming devices, on campus.

“No Problem during Instruction Time”

Petrano communicated no objection against keeping phones in bags during instruction time but expressed concern over the possibility of a full campus lockdown, restricting phone usage.

The Superintendent’s Address

South Carolina Superintendent of Education, Ellen Weaver, responded before Wednesday’s unfortunate incident in Georgia. Weaver emphasized the students’ need to stay vigilant under the guidance of responsible adults during emergencies instead of getting distracted by digital devices. Governor Henry McMaster, a supporter of the policy, reinforced Weaver’s stance.

“Stay Focused – Stay Safe”

“That would, we hope, keep the pandemonium down and provide more safety,” McMaster asserted. He suggested this policy could enhance the effectiveness of school resource officers prevalent in almost every school today.

Weaver also said that the responsibility of communicating real-time emergency information lies with school districts, not students. “We’re going to continue to learn from other states… pick up and share with districts across the state so that our parents don’t have to wonder if their student is safe during an emergency,” Weaver added.

Reinforcing the Policy

Despite recent events in Georgia, the South Carolina Department of Education maintains the phone ban, intended for normal school operations with safety and communication paramount during emergencies. Statewide implementation of these cellphone policies is slated to commence in January, but local districts might start enforcing their own policies earlier.