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Fairfax County students in grades nine through 12 will face tighter cellphone restrictions during the 2025-26 school year under regulations approved by the School Board on May 8.
The revised Student Rights and Responsibilities regulation allows high school students 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 must follow the Acceptable Use Policy in the Student Rights and Responsibilities document.
Another amendment requires the Chief Equity Office, working with the Office of the Chief of Schools, to conduct semester reviews of discipline cases involving weapons, assault, and assault and battery. The reviews will examine required interventions, case dispositions and factors considered before suspensions are issued.
The board separately awarded an intergovernmental contract to the Alexandria City School Board for professional-development services supporting multilingual learners.
Budget and governance reviews
Superintendent Michelle Reid presented proposed adjustments needed to balance the fiscal year 2026 advertised budget. She also delivered an Academic Matters presentation on Classroom on Wheels.
The board reviewed Reid’s monitoring report on Executive Limitation 3, which governs relationships with families and community stakeholders. Members found the superintendent in compliance, approved the 2024-25 monitoring report and voted to retain the policy as written in the Strategic Governance Manual.
The presentation completed Reid’s Executive Limitation monitoring reports and Strategic Plan goal reports for the 2024-25 school year.
On its consent agenda, the board approved minutes from the 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. Several contracts were also awarded.
Recognitions and public participation
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 under the direction of Beth Anderson-Morgan.
The board adopted 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 presented student representative matters.
Before adjournment, Melanie Meren delivered a state legislative update, Ryan McElveen reported on the Audit Committee and Robyn Lady reported on the Governance Committee. Reid presented superintendent matters, and board member St. John-Cunning offered remarks during board matters.
The meeting adjourned at 11:24 p.m.
Upcoming meetings included Public Engagement and Governance committee sessions on May 13, followed by a budget public hearing that evening; a Comprehensive Planning and Development Committee meeting on May 15; a Budget Committee meeting on May 20; and the next regular board meeting on May 22.