On Feb. 7, the school board members detailed the edits and additions to the 2026-2027 SR&R handbook. The additions discussed are broad in its content, but Governor Abigail Spanberger’s change regarding the cell phone policy is a rule that will be both prominent and prevalent to students grades 7-12 next school year.

During a school board meeting on May 7, Dr. Nardos King spoke on the updated policy.

“For next year’s SR&R, the change will be that students in all grades k through 12 will not be able to use their cell phones from bell to bell and bell to bell constitutes from the first bell in the morning to the last bell in the afternoon,” King said. “This year’s SR&R allowed high school students to use their cell phones during their 30 minute lunch period in designated lunch areas and that is the change for next year. They will no longer be permitted to do so.”

Though it is unclear how exactly this policy is to be enforced or what exceptions will be tolerated, the policy’s statement is clear: phones do not belong and have no present function in a school environment.

UPDATE ON 5/13: The cell phone ban will take effect on July 1, 2026. This ban includes other personal devices such as Airpods, smart watches, and earbuds.