Laurens Co. School District 55 Implements New Cell Phone Rules

Laurens County, S.C. — Students in Laurens County School District 55 (LCSD) will face new cell phone policies starting this Thursday when they return to school. As per the district’s announcement, students in kindergarten through 8th grade at all LCSD 55 schools and the Laurens Preparatory Academy will not be allowed to use cell phones at all.

No cell phone use will be permitted at Laurens District 55 High School (LDHS) for students in 9th through 12th grades during class time. According to Faye Colley, the district’s coordinator of communications, the aim is to ensure that “students are academically successful and more engaged.”

Reason Behind the New Policy

This decision comes on the heels of a survey sent out by South Carolina Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver to all teachers in May. The survey revealed that cell phones are a common distraction in classrooms and may also exacerbate issues like cheating and cyber bullying. Consequently, the state’s Department of Education mandated in June that all school districts must “prohibit access to personal electronic communication devices by students during the school day” or risk losing some state funding.

“We are being proactive”

Colley emphasized that the district wants to be proactive in implementing these rules. “We believe we need to start early so nobody is shocked in the middle of the school year that we’re going to do something different. It’s a brand new year. It’s a good time to get it started,” Colley said.

Disciplinary Measures and Communication Alternatives

As the school year approaches, LCSD 55 has not yet determined disciplinary measures for students who fail to comply with the new cell phone rules. Colley, however, remains optimistic that students will adhere to the guidelines. “We truly believe that our students are going to be better off socially, emotionally, and academically with this implementation,” she added.

For parents worried about communication, students can still get in touch with their parents using the phone in the school office. In the event of a school-wide emergency, the district has an alert system in place to notify parents via phone call, text message, or email.

Other Districts Following Suit

Notably, Laurens County School District 55 is not alone in this initiative. Greenwood School District 50 has also implemented a similar cell phone policy in its schools, making it clear that the state is taking this issue seriously.

As students and parents brace for the new school year, these changes signal a significant shift towards minimizing distractions and enhancing the learning environment. Whether these measures will achieve the intended goals remains to be seen, but the district stands firm in its belief that this is a step in the right direction.