Hillsborough schools to soon adopt new cell phone policy
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Hillsborough County Public School students could soon be facing some of the strictest cell phone rules out of any Tampa Bay area district.
The school board looks to approve publishing a notice of the rule change on Tuesday and alerting parents soon. The policy is set to be officially adopted next month.
While the policy has gone through several revisions, the latest draft allows only high schoolers to have their phones out during the school day — but only at lunch. For every other grade, phones can only be used before or after school.
Students need permission from faculty or staff to use a phone during school. Other than that, phones have to be silenced and out of sight.
These rules also apply to other “wireless communication devices,” including smart watches, any messaging devices or headphones.
One of the few exceptions to the policy is if students are using their phone or device to monitor a documented health condition.
The policy also prohibits students from taking unauthorized pictures or videos of students and staff. If need be, it allows principals to set even more restrictions at their own schools.
Many other local school districts have a gradual approach to cell phones, allowing students to use them more and more in school as they get older.
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