HORRY COUNTY, SC (WPDE) — The South Carolina Department of Education adopted its first cell phone policy on Tuesday.

The new policy bans the use of mobile phones in classrooms from January 2025.

Parents have begun to express safety concerns and wonder how they can contact their children in the event of an emergency at school.

Following the recent shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, many parents continue to raise their voices.

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“I’ll be in the principal’s office quite a bit because that’s not going to happen,” said grandmother Lori Mildner.

Although Mildner is in favor of transparent backpacks and metal detectors, he believes this goes a step too far.

I feel like it takes away our children’s ability to communicate,” Mildner said.

Other parents continued to voice their support for the passage of the nationwide ban throughout the week.

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“Basically, everyone here really comes to the table and says, ‘Look, this is not a place for cell phones, this is a place for education,'” said father David Warner.

Some people believe that mobile phones do more harm than good in an emergency.

“These phones are a distraction in emergency situations because teachers have to give the children their full attention,” Warner said.

The committee will let local school districts decide how far to go with the new rule, which could mean banning cell phones on school buses, field trips and other activities.

The Horry County School Board will meet Monday to discuss the new policy.

Students participating in an IEP, health insurance plan, or 504 plan will be permitted access to their electronic device for medically or educationally necessary purposes.