A student who brings a cell phone to school is responsible for ensuring that the cell phone does not disrupt class or any school function. Cell phones must be turned off during the school day and at all school functions and kept out of sight during all class time and testing time except when being used for a valid instructional or other schoolrelated purpose as determined by the teacher or other District employee. Students may not telephone, text or otherwise use cell phones during the school day.

 

If a phone rings or vibrates during class or other school activity (including while riding a school bus), the teacher or other staff will determine consequences which may include asking the student to hand over the phone turning it into the school office. If a disruption occurs, the employee may direct the student to turn off the device and/or confiscate the device until the end of the activity, class period, or school day. The school office staff will keep the cell phone until the parent comes to school to pick up the cell phone.

 

A student is prohibited from using the cell phone’s camera and/or video functions except when being used for a valid instructional or other schoolrelated purpose as determined by the teacher or other District employee, while on campus, while at a school activity, or while under the supervision of school staff whether on or off campus.

 

Cell phones must not be used for bullying, harassing, threatening, or teasing of students or school staff. Cell phones must not be used to send threats and must not contain photos that are sexually explicit, photos of nude or partly nude people, photos of undergarments, photos of illegal activities, or photos of unlawful acts, drugs or drug paraphernalia.

 

If a student brings a cell phone to school, the school reserves the right to search the cell phone and review photos, videos, voicemail messages, text messages, and any other capabilities when there is reasonable suspicion and/or when the law otherwise allows. By signing the Acceptable Use Agreement policy, student and parents are providing specific consent to any and all District employees to search or otherwise access and review electronic device information by means of physical interaction or electronic communication with any electronic device used or possessed by Student, whether the device is owned by the Student, Parent, District, or anyone else, if Student uses or possesses the device at school or a school activity, on the way to and from school or a School activity, or otherwise related to school activity or attendance, and with any electronic device owned by Student or Parent if reported lost or stolen. If a parent objects to the school viewing items on the phone or listening to or reading messages, then the parent shall not allow the child to bring a cell phone to school.

 

The school may also share the cell phone with police when legally authorized.

 

If a student whose cell phone has disrupted the school refuses to turn their cell phone over to staff immediately when requested or if a student uses a cell phone in a manner that violates this handbook or other school rules, the student will be disciplined for disruption and/or willful defiance, up to and including suspension when legally authorized, and the student may be prohibited from bringing a cell phone to school or school activities.