Dorchester School Dist. Two Board Votes on Student Cell Phone Bans and Restrictions

DORCHESTER COUNTY, SC (WCSC) – The Dorchester Two School District Board of Trustees met Monday evening to discuss and vote on several important issues for families preparing to start the new school year.

One of the most significant involved the use of personal electronic devices, not just cellphones and smartwatches but also district-owned devices, to ensure the learning environment remained free from disruptions and protected student privacy.

Under the new JICJ policy, elementary and secondary students are not allowed to have a pager/cell phone on school property during the school day. The district states that it will make an exception to this policy if a student needs a pager/cell phone for a legitimate medical reason.

For high school students, the rules are a bit more liberal. All students are allowed to have and use a personal electronic device on school grounds before school starts, during transition times, during lunch breaks, and after school ends.

Per the policy, a personal electronic device is defined as any device that a student has in their possession that communicates electronically, sends, receives, stores, plays, or displays voice, images, and/or text data or communications. This includes, but is not limited to, cell phones and smartphones, music and media players, personal gaming devices, tablets, laptops, and personal digital assistants.

The consequences and rules are as follows (can be found in the JICJ-R policy).

Primary/Secondary School

First offense: Device will be returned to parent/guardian
All other offenses: $25 fine or device confiscation until the end of the school year

High school

Communication devices can be used in the following situations:
- Before the official start of the school day
- During the class exchange
- During the scheduled lunch break
- After the official end of the school day, unless as part of an extracurricular activity or in detention
Communication devices may be used in common areas (cafeteria, courtyard, hallways) but not in classrooms/learning spaces, including the media center. Students may only use communication devices in offices with the permission of a staff member present.

To learn more about Monday’s meeting or to view a slide presentation, click here. You can also visit the district’s YouTube to watch the full recording of the meeting.