Wilson Co. schools proposal would OK searches of students' cell phones for texts, pictures
Parents in the Wilson County school district are calling a proposed rule that would allow student’s phones to be searched in school a breach of privacy.
Wilson parents say they feel the proposal could put their children at risk.
“It’s just, it’s a terrible idea,” Wilson parent Jayme Daniels said. “It’s privacy, it’s a breach of privacy.”
At a meeting on Aug. 16, the Wilson County school board heard the first reading of Policy 4342 – Student Searches.
Under the proposal, if a student were suspected of breaking school rules or the law, the school could search their cell phone for evidence, including their text messages and pictures.
The proposal said the search would have to be reasonably related to the investigation and not excessively intrusive. But one school board member came out against the proposed rule.
District 7 representative and attorney Rhyan Breen told WRAL News that while the policy appeared to be constitutional, it would be nearly impossible to search for a specific text or picture on a phone without reading through the rest of them.
Breen said because students’ phones often hold information from the rest of the family, the proposal could be an invasion of privacy for students and their parents as well.
Parents said they agreed.
“It’s just going to create controversy and problems that don’t need to be there,” Daniels said.
Daniels, a former middle school teacher, said a student’s phone shouldn’t be searched by anyone but the police, especially when pictures are involved.
“I have a daughter who will be 15 here soon, and I certainly don’t want a phone in anyone’s hands that I don’t know well, looking through pictures of her and her friends,” Daniels said.
In response, Wilson school board chair Christine Finch said the board was getting guidance on the policy from its legal counsel in the Aug. 16 meeting, and that first readings of proposals are often refined before they’re voted on.
The proposal was set to be discussed again at the next Wilson school board meeting on Sept. 20, where it could be revised.
