Just two weeks after voting on a screen time policy, the Virginia Beach School Board brought it back to the floor to pass a more restrictive one.
The discussion was less about the merits of limiting Chromebook use – which virtually everyone from educators, board members to researchers, agree with – and more about the board’s handling of the policy. It returned to the board after two members said they were confused about what they voted on.
“Using a lack of clarity as an excuse to undo a democratic vote compromises the public's trust in your decision-making,” Amanda Marcum, a Virginia Beach educator, said during public comment. “Introducing the change immediately after the school year concludes, when educators are transitioning into their summer break, gives the distinct impression of trying to bypass public scrutiny.”
The policy, which will go into effect in the fall, passed 6-5, with members Matt Cummings, Sharon Felton, Alveta Green, Kimberly Melnyk and Melinda Rogers voting against it.
“I recognize that change is very uncomfortable,” said Board Chair Kathleen Brown, “but the data is showing that screen time, recreational or not, is negatively impacting students.”
Screen time and Chromebook use have come before the board during its last three regular meetings. Every meeting has included several hours of comments and discussion from the public and board.
Members passed a policy during its June 8 meeting that barred Chromebooks from pre-K and kindergarten classrooms, allowed for 10 devices for first graders and 1-to-1 devices for second graders in classrooms only.
The policy did not restrict screen time at the library. It carved out exceptions for English language learners and for students who need them because of an educational plan.
That policy was less restrictive than an original suggestion from the division’s policy review committee that would have barred Chromebooks in class until second grade; it had the same exceptions.
The limited-device policy passed 7-4. But it appeared back on Tuesday's agenda after two board members who voted in favor it, Mike Callan and David Culpepper, said they were confused by what they were voting on.
During the June 8 meeting, board members discussed and amended the policy, first to ensure English language learners would have access to devices and then to include the 10 Chromebooks for first graders.
Cummings later called the meeting “awkward” and said it was “embarrassing” that the policy was “being written on the fly.”
Callan said that without a written copy of the changes, he didn’t fully process the proposal.
“The meeting that took place a few weeks ago, and the discussion that centered around this subject grew more and more muddy and murky and confusing and befuddling,” Callan said Tuesday.
During the discussion, all of the board members who voted against the policy were frustrated that the policy was brought back after they felt a compromise was made. They also felt it should have been finalized before the summer break so teachers would know what to expect.
“Everyone right now is in forward motion, preparing for the upcoming school year based on the good-faith, bipartisan policy that we all supported,” Green said. “For me, it's a matter of honor.”
Questions were also raised about whether the change would burden librarians who may have to accommodate more students, as they still need to use devices to meet state standards of learning. Other concerns included whether the change would hinder students when it came time to take state tests on computers or if it would cause inequities for students who don’t have devices at home.
Ultimately, it’ll be about three years before the district can provide trend data about the policy’s effects – good or bad.
“I can't look at anyone in the eye and say this is the right decision or this is the wrong decision,” said Superintendent Donald Robertson. “It's change, and any time you introduce change, I don't care what it is, there's risk.”
A request to send the policy back to the division’s policy review committee failed.
District staff said they would work with educators to ensure they had the proper tools and that they would regularly check in with staff about the implementation.
The board said it’s interested in creating rules that also address screen time use for older students.
Virginia Beach City Public Schools is a member of the Hampton Roads Educational Telecommunications Association, which holds WHRO’s license.
