cell phone | FFXnow

Published December 13, 2024 at 9:45AM

Fairfax County School Board student representative Megan Sawant speaks during a board meeting on Dec. 5, 2024 (via FCPS)

As Fairfax County Public Schools considers revising its cell phone storage policy, students are calling for a more consistent approach across classrooms, citing concerns about uneven enforcement.

The school system is currently testing a phone-free pilot program at select middle and high schools to evaluate the impact of stricter limits on student cell phone use. Once the pilot concludes, the school board plans to use the collected data to develop an updated policy aligned with new Virginia Department of Education guidelines, which must be adopted by school boards statewide by Jan. 1, 2025.

Countywide

Fairfax County to roll out phone-free pilot in select schools next month

By James Jarvis

Published August 16, 2024 at 9:30AM

Woman types on smartphone (via freestocks/Unsplash)

During the new school year, which kicks off Monday (Aug. 19), students at select Fairfax County middle and high schools will be required to hand in their phones in order to turn up their focus.

Starting Sept. 3, Fairfax County Public Schools will begin rolling out a new phone-free pilot program, requiring middle and high school students to secure their cell phones in magnetically sealed pouches or lockers during class to reduce distractions.

Countywide

FCPS plans pilot as Gov. Youngkin seeks to restrict cell phone use in schools

By James Jarvis

Published July 12, 2024 at 1:30PM

A closeup of an iPhone screen (via Adrien/Unsplash)

Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s recent executive order to limit phone use in Virginia schools may align with a new pilot program being considered by Fairfax County Public Schools.

Signed Wednesday (July 10), the executive order directs the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to gather feedback from parents, teachers, and administrators to create guidelines for enforcing “cell-phone-free” classrooms in public schools.

Countywide

FCPS to tighten enforcement of student cell phone use restrictions

By James Jarvis

Published May 30, 2024 at 11:45AM

Cell phone on top of Dr. Seuss book (via Tamarcus Brown/Unsplash)

Fairfax County Public Schools is considering a pilot program this fall that would require students to hand over their cell phones during class.

Earlier this month, the Fairfax County School Board directed Superintendent Michelle Reid to develop a plan for students to secure their phones in lockers, magnetic pouches or similar central storage areas — as opposed to their pocket or backpack — with the goal of reducing distractions and improving student focus.

News

Police: Man arrested after stabbing on Fairfax Connector bus in Tysons

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 13, 2023 at 12:00PM | Updated February 13, 2023 at 12:37PM

Fairfax Connector bus (file photo)

A man from Springfield is facing multiple charges after stabbing another man’s hand and stealing a bus driver’s cell phone while riding Fairfax Connector in Tysons.

Fairfax County police responded to the intersection of Jones Branch Drive and International Drive at 12:52 p.m. on Saturday (Feb. 11) after getting a report that a person had been stabbed.

News

Effort to relocate cell tower by I-495 in McLean still ongoing

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 3, 2023 at 2:15PM | Updated January 5, 2023 at 3:47PM

The cell tower by I-495 at the Old Dominion Drive bridge in McLean (via Google Maps)

(Updated at 3:45 p.m. on 1/5/2023) The search is still on for a new site to host a cell tower in McLean that has to be removed to make room for the widening Capital Beltway.

The monopole, which is owned by American Cell Towers and supports AT&T and T-Mobile service, was officially decommissioned on Dec. 9, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Countywide

Fairfax County’s website will get a new design early next year

By Matt Blitz

Published December 6, 2022 at 2:15PM | Updated December 9, 2022 at 2:39PM

A sample design of the county's redesigned website (image via screenshot/Fairfax County)

Fairfax County is refreshing its website.

A website redesign is currently underway as the county looks to update “the look and feel based on new design trends to serve our community better,” the county’s digital content lead Greg Licamele told FFXnow in an email.

News

I-495 widening will require removal of cell tower in McLean, potentially affecting service

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 5, 2022 at 10:30AM

The cell tower by I-495 at the Old Dominion Drive bridge in McLean (via Google Maps)

A cell tower by the Capital Beltway in McLean must be removed before the end of this year to make way for the road’s widening, leaving Fairfax County and state transportation leaders scrambling to prevent future service disruptions.

The 135-foot-tall monopole stands right next to I-495 at the Old Dominion Drive bridge, which will be replaced by a new two-lane bridge with a shared-use path as part of the Virginia Department of Transportation’s I-495 Northern Extension (495 NEXT) project.

Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published August 9, 2022 at 7:30AM

A frog statue looks up at Giant in University Mall (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Army Nurse Thanks Fairfax County Firefighters — “Sunday, August 7, was a powerful and inspiring day at Station 11, Penn Daw, C-Shift. U.S. Army Captain Paul Petrie, an OR Nurse at Fort Belvoir, stopped by to thank the shift for their role in saving his life in May. Injuries he sustained are fatal a vast majority of the time. Watch to learn more!” [FCFRD/Facebook]

Long-Term Fix for AT&T Service Issues in Reston Coming — A permanent proposal to restore full cell service in the Lake Anne area isn’t expected to come until later this fall, according to Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn. Alcorn says AT&T is looking at installing equipment on the new Fellowship House roof, but that will require approvals from Fairfax County and the Reston Association Design Review Board. [Patch]

News

Temporary fix addresses 911 issues caused by cell service outages in Lake Anne area

By Fatimah Waseem

Published August 1, 2022 at 3:45PM

Lake Anne Plaza during the 2021 Reston Multicultural Festival (Staff photo by David Taube)

Cellular service issues continue to plague residents in the Lake Anne area of Reston, but a recently added, temporary truck will at least ensure AT&T customers can call 911.

A spokesperson for AT&T said that since Friday (July 29) — when information about the outage was first released — the company has been trying to restore an antenna in the area.