BUCKHANNON — Upshur County Schools is asking for input from the community regarding a new proposed policy that would ban student cell phone use in schools in compliance with a new state law signed by Gov. Patrick Morrisey in April.

On June 10, Upshur County Schools began taking public comments on their website to allow for feedback from the community regarding the new proposed policy. The policy would prohibit students from using any personal electronic devices (PED) in school during instructional hours, “unless exceptions apply.”

The comment form will be open until July 1. The comment form can be found at upshurschools.com/o/upshur-county/page/public-comment.

“Upshur County Schools is beginning the process of developing an updated policy to address personal electronic devices, so we are compliant with newly passed legislation,” Upshur County Schools said in a statement on social media. “This includes, but is not limited to, cell phones, smart watches, laptops and portable gaming systems not provided by the county school system. Our goal in updating this policy is to allow our staff and students to be present.”

The policy comes after Morrisey signed House Bill (HB) 2003, which prohibits the use of personal electronic devices in classrooms state-wide, into law on April 29. According to HB 2003, all county boards of education in the state must have a policy in compliance with the law at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year.

“As Governor, one of my top priorities is to improve West Virginia’s educational rankings,” Morrisey said after signing the bill on April 29. “To do that, we must focus on academics and remove classroom distractions.”

According to a Frequently Asked Questions document released by Upshur County Schools regarding the proposed policy, the policy would go into effect on Aug. 11 for all staff and on Aug. 15 for all students in grades PK-12.

While prohibited from using them during instructional hours, students would still be allowed to bring their PEDs onto school property, so long as they are stored away in designated locations. PEDs must be stored at the beginning of the school day and must not be retrieved until the end of the school day, “unless exemptions apply.” PEDs cannot be used during transition periods in-between classes either.

Students in Upshur County elementary schools would be expected to put their PEDs “in the container or assigned pocket chart of the classroom teacher.” Upshur County middle school students will have to keep their devices in their assigned locker, and high school students must keep their devices in a “container or assigned pocket chart” for each classroom each class period.

The proposed policy released by Upshur County Schools on their website lists the punishments students could be met with if they violate the policy.

In Upshur County elementary schools:

With the first offense, the device will be confiscated and returned to the parent/guardian following a conference with the student and parent.

On the second offense, the device will be confiscated and returned to the parent/guardian, and the student will be assigned to detention.

On the third offense, the device will be confiscated and returned to the parent/guardian, and the student will be suspended from school for one day.

Any subsequent offense will see the device once again be confiscated and returned to the parent/guardian, as well as an increase in the student’s time suspended from school, and the privilege of possessing a PED on school property at any time, including extracurricular activities, may be revoked.

In Upshur County middle and high schools:

With the first offense, the device will be confiscated and returned to the parent/guardian, and the student will be assigned to one day of In-School Suspension or the equivalent number of hours of after-school ALC at the discretion of the principal.

On the second offense, the device will be confiscated and returned to the parent/guardian, and the student will be assigned to two days of In-School Suspension or the equivalent number of hours of after-school ALC at the discretion of the principal.

On the third offense, the device will be confiscated and returned to the parent/guardian, and the student will be suspended from school for three days.

Any subsequent offense will see the device once again be confiscated and returned to the parent/guardian, as well as an increase in the student’s time suspended from school, and the privilege of possessing a PED on school property at any time, including extracurricular activities, may be revoked.

The proposed policy also states that the “best way” parents and guardians can contact their student during the school day will be by calling the school’s office. Office personnel will “transmit” those messages to students at the end of each instructional period via a phone notification to the classroom. Students will also be permitted to use school phones to contact parents and guardians during the school day.

“This (policy) will allow our teachers and students to focus during the scheduled learning time without the distractions these devices can bring to teaching and learning,” an Upshur County Schools statement on social media reads. “We will work to make this policy easily understood with appropriate consequences when violated.”