MORNING HEADLINES | South Carolina’s 77 school districts are expected to be in compliance with a state-mandated cell phone ban by the time students return from winter break in January, according to media reports.
The state Education Department in the fall outlined expectations in a model policy on phone usage that schools are expected to follow starting in January.
In 2023, the City Paper reported cell phone bans in some Charleston County schools were popular among teachers and parents because they boosted quality instructional time.
“I think the agreement from pediatricians and parents across the board is that these addictive devices need to be put away in school,” parent Francis Beylotte III said in 2023.
But students often likened the bans to schools acting as “phone police.” One student said, “I had a friend who sat two seats away from me, and he was literally getting his backpack searched,” the student said.
In other recent headlines:
CP NEWS: Folly Beach’s Porgy House faces an uncertain future. The house where George Gershwin wrote “Porgy and Bess” is for sale on Folly Beach, where soaring home values, a lack of protection for historic homes and the constant threat of hurricanes and rising waters leave the future of the landmark at risk.
CP FOOD: 3 more not-to-miss holiday pop-ups. Earlier this season, we rounded up some of the area’s hottest holiday pop-ups. But those aren’t the only hot tickets in town. Here are three more places where you should eat, sip and be merry this month.
Foster group denies member attacked Mace. According to Foster Care Alumni of America, James McIntyre simply shook hands with the U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace at a Capitol Hill event earlier this week. McIntyre was arrested for assault Tuesday after Mace reported being accosted.
CEO shooting suspect has family ties to Charleston arts scene. The family of Luigi Mangione, who was arrested Monday for the murder of health insurance CEO Brian Thompson, has close ties to the city of Charleston, including ownership of an upscale downtown apartment and involvement in a local film festival.
Juvenile Justice agency slow to make changes, audit finds. A new Legislative Audit Council report finds slow progress at the S.C. Department of Juvenile Justice after a 2022 federal settlement required major reforms in the way the agency does business. Only about half of changes recommended in 2021 have been implemented, the audit shows.
South Carolina offering up to $10,000 to new home buyers. Starting Dec. 16, qualified South Carolinians will be able to apply for up to $10,000 in zero-interest, potentially forgivable loans toward the purchase of a new home, according to state officials
‘TIS THE SEASON: Charleston police host Santa escort. On Wednesday, a motorcade of over 60 police cruisers escorted Santa Claus as he made deliveries to kids across the Lowcountry.
Charleston County, Pet Helpers announce new partnership. Locked in a contract dispute with longtime animal shelter provider the Charleston Animal Society, Charleston County will pay Pet Helpers to help offset the cost of housing county strays.
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