Seminole County expected to ban TikTok, limit cell phone use

Seminole County Public Schools is updating policies on cell phones next week and considering banning TikTok and clarifying that images generated by artificial intelligence can violate the student conduct policy. 

The school board is meeting Tuesday, June 17, and will vote on updates to the Student Progression Plan, the Student Conduct and the Discipline Procedures Manual.

“Most everything in here is statutory or language cleanup,” said SCPS Board Chair Kristine Kraus, meaning that most of the changes are required by state law. 

According to a draft of the Student Conduct Policy presented in May, elementary school students would now have to keep cell phones silenced and in their backpacks during the school day. For secondary students and older, cell phones can only be used during class time if directed by a teacher. 

That also includes smart watches and glasses. 

“Students are prohibited from accessing social media platforms on the district Internet, except when expressly directed by a teacher solely for educational purposes,” reads the draft policy, which you can download here. “Also, students are prohibited from using a wireless communication device to access the TikTok platform or any successor platform on the district Internet and may not communicate or promote district school organizations, clubs, teams, events or activities on the platform.”

The draft policy also makes it a violation to use a cell phone or other wireless device to record audio, images or video of other students. Students also can’t record meetings with staff or school officials without “[expressed] written consent,” and can’t leave a phone recording in a backpack during a meeting. 

Students who violate the policy “may have their [wireless communication device] confiscated and held until the end of the school day and/or until a parent/guardian picks it up and may be directed to delete the audio and/or picture/video file,” the draft policy states. “If the violation involves potentially illegal activity, the confiscated [wireless communication device] may be turned over to law enforcement.” 

The policy also clarifies that explicit images generated by artificial intelligence can violate the prohibition on sexting and can count as an “inappropriate act.” 

Additionally, students will also no longer be able to use blankets or throws as outer garments or body coverings. 

“There was concern about not being able to adequately monitor what may be occurring under blankets and throws,” Deidre Garnes, the director of SCPS Alternative Programs, told board members in May. 

“That was quite an issue on field trips in the past,” school board member Autumn Garick said at the same meeting. 

The school board is also expected to clarify that students in private schools, charter schools, and also home education students are eligible to participate in sports and extracurricular activities at public schools. 

Seminole County Public Schools is meeting June 17 at 5:30 p.m. at 400 E. Lake Mary Blvd. in Sanford.

Seminole County Public Schools does not broadcast audio or video of its workshops. You can listen to a recording done by Oviedo Community News of the May 13 workshop where school board members discussed the policy changes below.