Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the first day of school would be Aug. 23. The first day of school for Cumberland County Schools is Aug. 25. CityView apologizes for this error.
Cumberland County students will find some changes when they return to the classroom on Aug. 25.
One will be a new policy governing students’ use of cellphones and other wireless devices on campus.
The policy was presented to the Cumberland County Board of Education in June as part of a statewide effort to ban students’ use of cell phones during instructional time. Gov. Josh Stein signed the bill into law in July, requiring local boards of education to adopt policies outlining student access to cell phones and other wireless devices during class.
The Cumberland County policy was approved as an item on the consent agenda at Tuesday’s meeting. It was developed with feedback from principals, and will differ slightly between the elementary, middle and high school levels.
The phones and other electronic devices will be allowed on campus but they must be silenced. Elementary school students must keep the devices put away between morning and afternoon hours.
Middle and high school students can bring devices to school, but they must be silenced and put away during class hours. The phones can be used between classes or on other breaks.
The first time a student breaks the rules, a verbal warning will be issued and the staff can temporarily confiscate the device and return it at the end of the day.
Parents are to be notified of the violation and school administrators have the option of returning a seized phone only to a parent at the end of the day.
If another violation occurs, the school principal will meet with the student and parents.
“It’s a policy that gives more strength in the code of conduct,” said Nick Sojka, the board’s attorney.
In other actions, the board:
- Adopted a revised version of a parent organizations policy, which sets out guidelines for groups such as PTAs and PTOs or other parental organizations. While the groups are not a part of the school system, “their activities reflect upon the school system,” and must therefore follow certain conditions around compliance and fund management, per the policy.
- Approved a $839,600 contract with Pope Metals Inc. for a re-roofing project at Douglas Byrd High School.
- Approved an interlocal agreement with the Town of Hope Mills regarding the use of fields and facilities and activity bus use for community programs from 2025 through 2028.
- Renewed a memorandum of agreement with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office for School Resource Officers services through June 30, 2026.
- Approved an interlocal agreement with the City of Fayetteville regarding activity bus use.
- Approved the 2025-2026 School Mental Health Improvement Plan.
