- December 16, 2025
Heeding the concerns of bus drivers, the Flagler County School Board kept its current policy, Nov. 15, stating that students will not be allowed to use any electronic devices on school buses.
The School Board previously asked staff to present an option for allowing students to text and email on buses, as long as there was no sound emitted from any electronic device. Such a policy could help students coordinate with parents if they were running late, for example.
Student Services Director Katrina Townsend spoke on behalf of the Transportation Department.
“We do not support this measure,” Townsend read from a prepared statement. “Currently, even with students being not allowed to use their electronic devices, we have many issues with them.”
Specifically, the department was concerned about enforcement and safety. For example, if a student were listening to music through ear buds, the driver might not be able to communicate with that student in an emergency.
School Board member Trevor Tucker and Chairwoman Sue Dickinson sided with the drivers’ stand on safety.
School Board members Andy Dance and Colleen Conklin voted to allow limited use of electronics.
Conklin said many students will use electronics regardless. She added, “I worry that we’re maintaining a policy that’s not enforceable or realistic.”
The vote was tied at 2-2, which confirmed the existing policy (a majority was necessary to overturn the policy). Board member John Fischer was absent because of a family emergency, Dickinson said.
