The Chester County School Board met last Tuesday night at their regular monthly meeting and spent nearly an hour discussing the cell phone policy for the upcoming school year. This policy also includes all personal electronic devices including smart watches, tablets and other wireless communication technology.
Director of Schools Troy Kilzer II said that he had been in touch with all the system’s principals and assistant principals for feedback concerning this policy and what changes needed to be implemented.
Kilzer said that he, and the local principals, had discussed various polices including one that had been implemented in the 2024-2025 school year in Warren County.
Their policy states that “all students are banned from possessing any type of phone or personal communications device that is turned on or in visible/audible use any time during the regular school day.
Board member Norris Frank said that his preference would be to “turn the phone off when you walk in the door and turn it back on when you walked out the door.”
Frank made a motion that students can possess their phones during the school day, but they are turned off until the end of the day. This would follow the current policy but would delete with the section that allows students to use electronic devices during breaks throughout the day. The proposed policy change would also make the policy for all grades K-12. Students would be permitted to utilize a wireless communication device under the following circumstances; in case of emergency, when authorized by a teacher, to manage the student’s health, as documented in the student’s individual healthcare plan, and when the device is being used by a student with disability for the operations of assistive technology to increase, maintain, or improve the student’s functional capabilities.
Dr. Kim Scott seconded his motion. The vote failed 4-2 with Frank and Scott casting the two votes in favor of the policy.
Board Member Ben Cupples then made a motion, seconded by Becky Hutcherson, to approve the new policy which follows the current policy and adds when students are permitted to use a wireless device. This includes in case of emergency, when authorized by a teacher, to manage the student’s health, as documented in the student’s individual healthcare plan, and when the device is being used by a student with disability for the operations of assistive technology to increase, maintain, or improve the student’s functional capabilities.” Students in grades K-5 may possess wireless communication devices so long as such devices are turned off and stored for the entirety of the school day unless one of the exceptions above applies. Grades 6-12 may possess wireless communication devices so long as such devices are turned off and stored during instructional time. During breaks throughout the school day, students may use wireless communication devices.
This motion passed 4-2 with Frank and Scott voting against.
Kilzer recognized the CCHS Baseball and Soccer teams for their outstanding seasons and CCHS golfer Mason Myers who placed sixth in the state golf tournament and was the top performing seventh grader.
New administrators, Dr. Nathan Hall and Natalie Lax were introduced as the new principal and assistant principal at the Middle School.
The board also approved the final drafts of the 2025-2026 budgets and approved the 2025-2026 meeting schedule.
The next board meeting is scheduled for July 22 at 5 p.m. at the Board of Education conference room.
