Tennessee Moves to Restrict Cell Phone Use During School Hours

Issue #370

04 Mar

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🌧 Columbia’s Wednesday Weather - Rain showers w/ high of 50 & low of 29

📰 Tennessee Moves to Restrict Cell Phone Use During School Hours

📰 New Exhibit Coming To Polk Home

🐶 Maury County Animal Services Offering $25 Adoptions 

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

⛑ Looking For Ways to Help Victims of Hurricane Helene? Click Here

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Tuesday, March 4th

Wednesday, March 5th

Thursday, March 6th

Friday, March 7th

Saturday, March 8th

Tennessee Moves to Restrict Cell Phone Use During School Hours

The Tennessee House of Representatives has passed a bill that would mandate school districts to ban cell phones, laptops, smart watches, and other electronic devices during instructional time. The legislation received overwhelming bipartisan support, passing with a vote of 80 to 10.

House Bill 932 requires each school district to develop and implement policies limiting the use of wireless communication devices during classroom hours. The bill provides flexibility for local school boards to determine specific implementation strategies, with some important exceptions for educational purposes, students with disabilities, and medical needs.

Districts will have the option to either completely prohibit device use from the start to the end of the school day or implement more targeted restrictions during classroom instruction. The legislation ensures that students can still access devices during emergency situations.

Tennessee is part of a growing national trend of states exploring policies to reduce electronic device distractions in educational settings. The bill is expected to receive a final Senate vote and, if approved, will be sent to Governor Bill Lee for consideration.

If signed into law, the measure will take effect on July 1 and will be implemented statewide during the 2025-26 school year. School districts will need to develop and submit their specific device restriction policies to the State Board of Education.

The proposed legislation includes important exceptions to ensure that students with special learning needs, medical requirements, or educational purposes can still use electronic devices when necessary. This nuanced approach aims to balance device restriction with individual student needs.

New Exhibit Coming To Polk Home

Driven by Mules: Columbia’s Journey to the Mule Capital is a captivating museum exhibit that tells the story of Columbia’s rich history intertwined with the role mules played in shaping the region’s economy and culture. The exhibit will feature art by Bernice Davidson, and a wide range of artifacts, photographs, and more! The exhibit will be open from March 2025 to June 2025.

The exhibit will be opening March 8th, 2025 at 4:00 pm for a members only private opening, visit our website to purchase a membership to attend this private opening show, which will also be attended by the artist Bernice Davidson.

Maury County Animal Services Offering $25 Adoptions

Dogs available for adoption. Click the image to see more photos.

We have a lot of new faces for you to meet. If you are thinking about adopting today would be a great day to come in. Don't forget dog adoptions are $25 right now. That includes spay/neuter, up to date on shots and a microchip. We are open until 6 pm every weekday. If you have a dog they need to come along for a meet and greet.

We are still looking for fosters. This is a great way to see if you might be ready to care for a dog. We can help you find the right dog and we are with you through every step of your foster journey. We would love to help you make a match this week so come see us. Please share so we reach more adopters. 

To donate to Friends of MCAS or to find our volunteer application:  www.friendsofmcas.com

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Wednesday, March 5th

Austin Byrd, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM

Thursday, March 6th

Matt Marinchick, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM
Todd Ciprian, Tito's Spring Hill, 6-9 PM
Neal Pennington, McCreary's Irish Pub, 7-9 PM

Friday, March 7th

Nick Bentley, Grinder's Switch, 6-8 PM
The Tim Turner Band, McCreary's Irish Pub, 7-9 PM
Songwriter Series ft. J. Michael Harter, Rhonda Funk, Lockwood Barr & Collins Horton, The  Mulehouse 7 PM
Smith & Gone, Puckett’s, 7:30-9 PM
Escape, Fozzy's Bar &  Grill, 8-11 PM

Saturday, March 8th

Andy Liter & the Lite Beers, McCreary's Irish Pub, 7-9 PM
Kenny Durham Trio, Puckett’s, 7:30-9 PM
CJ & The Whiskey Sundown Band, Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Sunday, March 9th

Brandon Bratley, Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 4-7 PM
Aaron Sizemore Band, The Rebel, 4 PM
Jay Hoppus, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM

(Sponsor)

👇 Click the Links to Learn About our Local Business Sponsors! 👇

Want to get your business in What’s Up Columbia? Let’s talk