Brevard school board approves stricter wireless-device rule for students, 4-1

The Brevard Public Schools Board of Education on Tuesday approved a new district policy that prohibits students from using personal wireless communication devices, including cell phones, tablets and personal laptops, during the school day, passing the measure 4-1.

The policy, identified in board materials as a revision to policy 5136, was approved after a lengthy public comment period and more than an hour of board discussion. Board member Mr. Thomas voted yes, board member Miss Campbell voted no, Mr. Trent and Mr. Susan voted yes and Miss Wright voted yes.

Supporters of a broad ban said limiting devices during bell-to-bell instructional time will reduce distractions and improve classroom focus. “The kids are actually talking,” said Mr. Susan during the board discussion, describing feedback from school administrators after the policy was piloted at some sites. He added that some cafeterias were “the loudest that they’ve ever had a lunch period, because the kids were actually talking.”

Opponents, including students, parents and teachers, urged the board to narrow the policy or preserve principal discretion for laptops, tablets and other devices used for academic work. Multiple students described using tablets and phones for dual-enrollment, science research, musical practice and accessibility supports. “For students like me in dual enrollment, science research or with learning differences, personal devices such as tablets and computers are not distractions. They are lifelines to our education,” said Ava Gallo, a junior and dual-enrollment student at Satellite High School.

Union leaders and classroom teachers also urged a more limited approach. Andrew Spar, who identified himself as an elementary music teacher and president of the Florida Education Association, spoke in favor of keeping qualified academic uses available and questioned the practical effect of a blanket ban for high school students who rely on devices for coursework.

Board members debated enforcement details and unintended consequences. Miss Campbell urged the board to preserve academic exceptions; she noted that many teachers rely on students’ personal devices for tasks such as filming physics experiments or using specialized music apps. Mr. Trent and Mr. Susan said they supported the policy but acknowledged concerns about laptops and tablets and pledged to send the item back to workshops for fine-tuning before the rule takes effect.

The board also noted the policy will not take effect immediately. Under the board’s rule-making schedule, new board policies typically enter a 30-day period before becoming enforceable; the board said staff will return to a workshop to refine language and consider principal discretion and academic exceptions during that interval.

Several parents and students warned the board that strict device limits without adequate district hardware could disadvantage students who use personal devices for coursework or accommodations. “School-issued computers cannot be taken home which makes them impossible for my research needs,” said a student who described using proprietary software for a science-research project that is not available on district machines.

The public record from Tuesday shows strong cross-partisan public interest in the issue: parents, music teachers, students in advanced classes and special education advocates all urged modifications. Several speakers also said the district should build a clearer enforcement plan that targets misuse rather than broadly restricting legitimate academic access.

Board members approved the new policy by roll call; the board and staff agreed to schedule additional workshops to address implementation details and technical exceptions before the policy goes into force districtwide.

Votes at a glance
- Adoption of the evening agenda: approved unanimously (Mr. Thomas: Aye; Miss Campbell: Aye; Mr. Trent: Aye; Mr. Susan: Aye; Miss Wright: Aye).
- Administrative staff recommendations (including promotions and other personnel actions): approved unanimously.
- Policy 5136 (wireless communication devices): approved 4-1 (Miss Campbell opposed).

Ending
Board members emphasized that the policy as approved is intended to reduce classroom distractions and that staff will return to the board in a workshop to refine the rule’s language, address laptop/iPad access for academic purposes and clarify enforcement and exceptions.