Policy 503.09: Student Use of Personal Electronic Devices
Student use of personal electronic devices during instructional time is prohibited. Students have access to district-owned electronic devices as appropriate for the instructional needs of the learning environment and authorized by the classroom teacher. Parents or guardians who need to communicate with students during instructional time may contact the school building administrative office.
Instructional time is defined to mean 8:00am or first bell to 3:05 pm or final bell. For Middle School and High School Students - Lunch and passing time are excluded from instructional time.
Personal electronic devices means any device that is capable of electronically communicating, sending, receiving, storing, recording, reproducing and/or displaying information and data. This may include but is not limited to electronic communication equipment, Wireless earbuds, headphones, mobile phones, smart phones, video game devices and portable media players.
(Headphones and earbuds will be provided and may be allowed if wired and used to connect to a school issued electronic device.)
Students may wear smart or electronic watches but may not use any communication applications or features that are prohibited from use on other electronic devices and all notifications must be turned off. Staff may ask for any watch to be put away; if distracting, during state/district assessments, tests, and at any time to protect academic integrity. Violations will be treated the same as all other Personal Electronic Devices.
To avoid distraction during instructional time, personal electronic devices must be silenced or turned off, not visible, and not physically attached to the student's body. Students may store their personal electronic devices in their backpacks or lockers.
Staff taking possession of the Device
Student personal electronic devices in the possession of the district will be secured using the following methods:
- Student turns the device over to Staff Member (Refusal to turn the phone over will result in ‘Insubordination’ consequences) The student needs to power the Phone down.
- The personal electronic device is turned over to the Building Office where it is labeled and will be locked in a designated lock box.
- Staff will submit a behavior referral form.
Student Retrieval and Discipline :
- 1st Offense - End of the school day or when the student leaves school for the day.
- 2nd Offense - Primary Guardians must retrieve the phone, in person, from the office. (Proxies such as grandparents, adult siblings, or other relatives, and emergencies contacts will not be allowed to retrieve the phone)
- 3rd Offense - Primary Guardians meeting with Administration prior to return of the phone to discuss policy, expectations, and potential next steps.
- 4th and beyond - Primary Guardians meeting with Administration prior to return of the phone to discuss policy, expectations - Students may be suspended for insubordination and habitually violating school/district policy.
*Offenses are based on a School Year.
Other Policy Applications
*A student found to be in violation with multiple devices at once (phone, earbuds, and watch) will be treated as a single event.
*A student turning over a fake, false, or “burner” device to withhold another device will be treated as insubordination. The student may be suspended for conspiring to possess contraband.
*A history of non-compliance, coercive behavior, and conspiring to manipulate the policies and rules with intent to be disruptive to the learning environment will be cause for extensive searches of the person and personal property that is on school grounds.
The district is not responsible for the loss, theft, or destruction of personal electronic devices brought onto school, or district property, or while the student is attending district or school-sponsored events.