This Virginia school district bans smartwatches in classrooms: Here’s what to expect after winter break – Newz9

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) has expanded its ban on digital units to embody smartwatches, additional proscribing scholar cellular phone and pill use. The School Board voted 8-1 on the change, aligning with a state-degree government order from Governor Glenn Youngkin.
The new coverage prohibits college students from having telephones, tablets, or smartwatches throughout class, between lessons, at recess, and through lunch. Devices should be saved in backpacks, lockers, or a chosen space in the classroom. Students can use units on school buses touring to and from school, and between campuses.
The earlier coverage allowed smartwatches. The stricter guidelines now convey penalties for violations, together with suspension and expulsion.
According to a WUSA-CBS report, school board member Abdel Elnoubi, the lone dissenting vote, questioned the necessity for the change. “We changed the policy about a year-and-a-half ago to what we have now,” Elnoubi stated. “And now this is driven by the VDOE and the governor’s advice. How’s the current policy working for us, because we put a policy that we felt works for us, right?”
Student representatives voiced security considerations, arguing for telephone entry. “We don’t feel safe at the school,” scholar consultant Nixon Perez Orozco stated. “I invite you guys, everyone who wants to come to the school, walk to the first floor, second floor and third floor and see how different kids behave on each floor, and security guards as well. They act like a child, literally. They are not doing their job.”
ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt emphasised the school’s accountability for scholar security and communication with mother and father. “I think the goal is about the safety,” Key-Wyatt stated. “I want to say to parents, let us manage the inside of that facility to ensure that it’s safe. If there’s a matter or something that they need to get to their their child, a message or something, there’s always the office who could take care of that matter for them.”
School Board Member Chris Harris acknowledged potential difficulties with implementing the brand new coverage. “I’m looking forward to see how this rolls out,” Harris stated. “It is going to be difficult. I totally understand that there will be challenges, but we ask that parents, families, students work with us, because we’re doing it for the right reasons,” WUSA reported.
The school system has procedures for contacting college students and households in the course of the school day for appointments, early dismissals, or different wants. Elementary college students can convey telephones to school with parental permission, however the units should be turned off and saved away.