WILSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Every school district in Tennessee will have some form of a cellphone ban once school starts in a few weeks due to a new state law.

On Monday night, the Wilson County School Board debated how far the ban should go in their schools and what will be enforceable.

“The most devastating distraction that we have in our schools is that cellphone. Hands down,” Donnie Self, Zone 5 School Board member, said.   

It was an hour of heated debate between Wilson County school board members when it came to adjusting their cell phone policy to align with a new state law.   

“Most of the feedback I’m getting from parents and teachers is that they want a complete ban, “ stated Dr. Beth Meyers Monday night.

Out of sight out of mind, that's what some school board members are pushing for, suggesting that students hand their phones to school staff for the entire day.   

“We have an opportunity to focus on education, give the best product we can, get these kids refocused and get those test scores up,” Greg Hohman, Zone 1 School Board member, said. 

Back in May, Clarksville-Montgomery school board members voted to prohibit cellphones for the entire school day.   

“We don’t really care where they are, they just need to be turned off and put away,” Chris Lanier, District 6 School Board Member, told News 2 in May.   

But would that same approach work in Wilson County?   

“I will say that we will have during class changes a bathroom full of kids on their phones and the kids that need to use the bathroom won’t be able to use the bathroom,”  Jamie Farough, Zone 7, said.  

The Wilson County School Board decided to ban cellphones and other devices during class time, but when it comes to students using between class and lunch, it’s up to individual school administrators.  

Some school board members are also encouraging parents to get in on the conversation.   

“Until the parents enforce this there will be phones in our schools, period,” Farough added.   

For now, the school board is telling students to self-regulate or suggesting that they will take a second look at the policy.  

“And if you don’t, then this board is going to come back with something stricter, so you better self-regulate,” Dr. Meyers said.   

“We have a bunch of addicted kids that can’t leave it alone and so it's going to be very difficult ask asking them to regulate,” Hohman added.

The state law allows devices for educational purposes, for the student’s health or in case of an emergency. 

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/they-just-need-to-be-turned-off-and-put-away-wilson-county-reviews-cellphone-policy/