Students at Palm Harbor University High School, Dunedin High School and every other Pinellas County school will have to leave their e-bikes at the racks and their smart glasses at home when the new school year begins Aug. 11.

The Pinellas County School Board voted July 14 to approve two amendments to the student code of conduct that will apply across the district's approximately 130 schools and 96,000 students. One requires students to walk e-bikes and e-scooters once they enter school property, park them at designated bike racks and keep them out of school buildings. Indoor charging also is prohibited. The other bans smart glasses and hidden-camera glasses on school campuses and buses.

District cites safety and privacy concerns

Area Superintendent Dr. Dywayne Hinds, who oversees Area 3 schools, said the number of e-bikes and e-scooters on campuses has increased significantly in recent years.

"We do understand students will need to be transported to schools, and that is a method of transportation, but we want students to be safe in the process," Hinds told WFLA.

Hinds also said parents should understand that students are responsible for securing their own e-bikes to prevent theft. The district will not store or safeguard the devices.

The smart glasses ban is intended to address privacy concerns. Hinds cited the possibility of students secretly recording classmates in locker rooms. District officials also raised concerns that the devices could be used for cheating, according to WFLA.

What the new rules require

Beginning Aug. 11, students across the district must:

  • Walk e-bikes and e-scooters while on school property.
  • Park e-bikes and e-scooters only at designated bike racks.
  • Keep e-bikes and e-scooters out of school buildings and refrain from charging them indoors.
  • Leave smart glasses and hidden-camera glasses at home, as the devices are prohibited on school campuses and buses.
  • Secure their own e-bikes and e-scooters, as the district is not responsible for preventing theft.

The board has not released the vote tally or details on how the new rules will be enforced. The 2026-27 school year runs through May 27, 2027.