Article Text
Fairfax County high school students will face tighter cellphone restrictions during the 2025-26 school year under changes approved by the School Board.
The revised Student Rights and Responsibilities regulation allows students in grades 9-12 to use cellphones on campus only before the first bell, after the last bell and during lunch.
The board also directed the superintendent to create a process requiring students and their parents or guardians to acknowledge that cellphones, smartwatches and other wearable devices remain their responsibility on FCPS property and at school-sanctioned events.
The planned guidelines will state that FCPS is not responsible for charging, caring for or protecting the devices, including in cases of loss, damage or theft. Students who bring devices to school or events must follow the acceptable-use policy in the Student Rights and Responsibilities document.
Another amendment requires semester reviews of discipline cases involving weapons, assault, and assault and battery. The Chief Equity Office and Office of the Chief of Schools will examine required interventions, case dispositions and factors considered before related suspensions are issued.
The board also awarded Alexandria City Public Schools an intergovernmental contract for professional-development services supporting multilingual learners.
Superintendent found in compliance
Superintendent Michelle Reid presented a monitoring report on relationships with families and community stakeholders, one of the executive limitations governing how the superintendent operates the school division.
The board found Reid in compliance, approved the 2024-25 monitoring report and voted to retain the policy without changes. The presentation completed Reid’s executive-limitation monitoring reports and Strategic Plan goal reports for the school year.
Reid also presented proposed adjustments needed to balance the advertised fiscal 2026 budget and delivered an Academic Matters presentation about Classroom on Wheels.
Proclamations and other business
The meeting opened at 7:15 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance, a moment of silence and a performance of the national anthem by the Carl Sandburg Middle School Symphonic Band, directed by Beth Anderson-Morgan.
Board members approved proclamations recognizing Educator Appreciation Week, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Freedom Hill Elementary School’s 75th anniversary, Gunston Elementary School’s 70th anniversary and Emily Burrell.
Nine people addressed the board during community participation, and Megan Sawant delivered the student representative report.
As part of its consent agenda, the board approved minutes from its April 10 meeting, the Special Education Annual Plan, a nomination for the Virginia School Board Association Excellence in Workforce Readiness Award, a Title I Part C grant-funding acknowledgment and a microgrant application focused on removing barriers to academic achievement. It also awarded several contracts.
The board received reports from Meren on state legislation, McElveen on the Audit Committee and Lady on the Governance Committee. Reid presented superintendent matters, and board member St. John-Cunning spoke during board matters.
The regular meeting adjourned at 11:24 p.m.