Decision on cellphone use in Vancouver schools pushed back to future school board meeting
![Cellphone school A student uses a cellphone in a classroom in this undated stock image. (Shutterstock)](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2024/5/28/cellphone-school-1-6903613-1716911856516.jpg)
A discussion on cellphone use for Vancouver students in kindergarten to Grade 6 has been put off to a future school board meeting, trustees decided Monday.
The original motion, which was on Monday night's school board agenda, was initially brought forward by school board chair Victoria Jung.
"We've heard that digital devices are quite distracting in a learning environment," Jung said Monday night while presenting her motion. "Our role is to create safe and healthy environments for kids to learn in and also prepare them for the world outside of school."
But trustee Suzie Mah called for the motion to be delayed, saying quorum wasn't met at an education plan committee where the matter was up for discussion. Only two out of four committee members attended that meeting.
Mah referred to a copy of Robert's Rules of Order, saying no decisions were able to me made by the committee at that gathering. As a result, she argued, the issue shouldn't have been added to the board's agenda Monday night.
"The other day, when we did not have quorum at that meeting, there was no meeting. It was an informal chat," Mah said. "I'm puzzled as to why the motion is now before us."
But Jung pointed to board policy, which she said "supersedes Robert's Rules." The board's policy stipulates that, when a quorum isn't reached, a committee can forward urgent matters to the board.
"There will always be meetings where people are not available," Jung said. "We're following our guidelines."
Even so, four trustees voted in favour of delaying the motion, while three voted against the postponement.
Earlier this year, B.C.'s premier announced districts would be required to have "appropriate" policies in place limiting students' use of devices by the start of the 2024-2025 school year.
The measure being proposed in Vancouver is to update schools' codes of conduct for kids in kindergarten through Grade 6 so that they "will be required to keep phones on silent and out of sight for the entire school day unless they get explicit permission from an educator," according to Jung's motion.
A policy for middle and high schools is not spelled out. Rather, the motion asks that the board agree to direct the superintendent to have policies proposed and a plan for implementation in place by July 1.
A new date for when the matter will be discussed by the school board has not been set.
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Lisa Steacy
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
AS IT HAPPENED Wildfire reaches Jasper Wednesday night, causes 'significant loss'
One of two wildfires threatening Jasper National Park reached the townsite Wednesday night and caused 'significant loss.'
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.