NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Starting when school resumes from winter break in January, students in Norfolk Public Schools will not be allowed to use their cell phones or any personal electronic communications devices on school grounds during the school day. The Norfolk School Board adopted the bell-to-bell, no cell phone policy in a 6-1 vote Wednesday. Board member Tanya Bhasin was the lone no vote. Any cell phone or other electronic device brought to school must be turned off and stored in a bookbag or backpack before entering the school building, and the device cannot be visible or stored on the student's person or clothing throughout the school day. Some parents feel the policy is too strict and needs to be loosened in some areas, and board members, despite the vote, said they agree. "One of the concerns that I have and will continue to look at are for medical devices," said Norfolk School Board member Carlos Clanton. "I know some of our students may need to be in situations where they need to be connected to their phone." Aside from students not being allowed to use cell phones inside the building, all communication needs that parents may have must be done through the school office. Some, however, feel this restriction puts students and staff at a disadvantage. "It is 2024," Bhasin said. "Technology isn't going away. I think digital literacy is important. We have e-textbooks today. I even had a concern over how music is shared. They are learning music using their iPad's and they don't have physical music." The consequences of Policy Violations are as follows: 1st offense: Verbal warning and parent/guardian communication 2nd offense: Written warning and parent/guardian communication 3rd offense: Confiscation of the device; returned to the student at the end of the school day with parent/guardian communication 4th and subsequent offenses: Confiscation of the device; returned only to a parent/guardian, with additional disciplinary actions as necessary Now that the policy has been adopted, board members hope to see the rule implemented and followed at every campus. The vote comes just a week after Virginia Beach City Public Schools voted to allow high school students to use phones during lunch. New VBCPS cell phone-free policy much like current one The new policy will ban phone usage in schools from bell-to-bell — complying with Gov. Glenn Youngkin's Executive Order 33, which promotes cell phone-free education across all schools in Virginia starting Jan. 1. Parents like cell phone ban, with reservations On Dec. 4, the school board discussed how they would implement the policy. During their meeting, Chief Academic Officer James Pohl said they sent a round of surveys to parents in the area in order to get their take on the topic. Norfolk school board discusses cell phone policy A majority of the responding parents stated they understand the need for the policy, but said they do want their children to have their phones during hall changes and during lunch time — however, the Executive Order does not allow for that leniency. While some board members approve of making the change, others remain skeptical. "Is our infrastructure strong enough to do all the things that some of our students are using their phones for instructional purposes," Bhasin said, "before we start putting this in place?"