VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) kicked off the 2024-2025 school year Monday.
“Super excited,” said Londyn Williams, a second-grader at Holland Elementary School.
Her mother Krystle Collins dropped her off.
“I’m feeling lovely. A little vacation. A little nervous but she’s excited so I think we’re ready,” she said.
Another second-grader Royal, said she’s excited to learn math.
Her mother Denesha Daniels, had a hard time letting her go.
“I’m nervous,” she said.
It’s also Daniels first day back at work from maternity leave. Her newborn is 2-months-old.
“It’s a big step dropping them both off. I’m going to miss them. I’m going to miss them,” she said.
The other cool kid at Holland, is Ares Vaughan.
“I’m going into fourth-grade and I’m a little bit excited,” he said.
His dad Tony Vaughan has been waiting for the first day of school to come.
“I’m loving it. I’m loving it. I’m glad they’re going back,” Vaughan said. “He needs to learn to get smarter.”
Superintendent Donald Robertson was right there to witness the smiles and tears from parents who were bringing their kids to school.
“It’s tears of the next journey in life,” Robertson said. “The first day at an Elementary School is like nothing else.”
10 On Your Side spoke to Robertson about the state-wide ban on cell phones in classrooms. In July, Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued the Executive Order.
“We have a policy in place we’ve been following for the past two years which closely resembles what may come through the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) later in September,” said Robertson. But right now we’re following the same process we’ve been following the last two years.
Two parents gave us their opinion on the order.
“I would like my kid to have his phone but they don’t want him to have it so I’m alright with that,” Vaghaun said.
“She has a watch. There is a no cell phone policy but she keeps it in her book bag. And it’s not a phone but I can track her location and she can text me if she needs something,” Collins said.
In August VDOE released a draft guidance on the policy. The final policy is scheduled to be released Sept. 16. Schools across the state are required to implement the policy Jan 1. 2024.