Knowledgebase article 14

Cell Phone Policy

Students and parents/guardians should understand that at any point in the year when students are not abiding by the cell phone policy, SCHS will move to total ban of cell phones from 7:55 am - 2:57 pm.

NO CELL PHONE USAGE during ALL instructional times in ALL areas of the campus.    Instructional time is defined as: the bell that rings to start class until the bell rings to end class. Students will not be allowed to have cell phones out, on desks, in sight, turned on or in use. Cell phone use is only permitted during the following times:

• during passing periods between classes

• during  lunch

• before and after school

Consequences:

Students who are in violation of the cell phone policy may be asked by any school staff member to turn in their cell phone. The phone will be taken to the office and placed in a safe where it can be picked up by the authorized person at 2:50 pm. No phone, under any circumstance, will be released to anyone before 2:50 pm.

NO CELL PHONE ZONES

The following areas are considered no cell phone zones at ALL times: Locker rooms, all bathrooms, Science/cooking/computer labs.

The following areas are considered no cell phone zones from 7:55-2:57:

Gymnasium, Field House, off-site practice fields for any extra-curricular activities, Swain Fine Arts Center.

Consequences:

If a student is found using the phone in a no cell phone zone, they will lose cell phone privileges for 180 school days.

Cell phone use is permitted during the following times:

• during passing periods between classes

• during lunch,

• before and after school

Consequences:

Students who are in violation of the cell phone policy may be asked by any school staff member to turn in their cell phone. The phone will be taken to the office and placed in a safe where it can be picked up by the authorized person at 2:50 pm. No phone, under any circumstance, will be released to anyone before 2:50 pm.

Violation of cell phone policy may result in the following:

1st offense:

• Teacher/administrator/staff confiscates phone and turns it into the office.

• Students can retrieve phone at end of the day (last five minutes of school).

• Students will complete 2 digital media citizenship courses in after school detention or during club schedule. The administrator will assign when a student completes this course.

• Parent will be notified via ConnectEd.

• Future violations will be considered persistent misbehavior, noncompliance with a school policy, and/or insubordination, and will result in more serious consequences.

• Failure to relinquish phone will result in 1 day of OSS.

2nd offense:

• Teacher/administrator/staff confiscates phone and turns it into the office.

• Parent/guardian will be contacted by the school administration.

• Parent/guardian will need to come to school and retrieve phone between 2:50-3:30pm.

• 30 school day ban on the cell phone at school

• 3 days of ISS

• Failure to relinquish phone will result in 1 day of OSS

• NOTE: The phone WILL NOT be released to the student- only to a parent/guardian, so it is the responsibility of the student to arrange for cell phone pick-up. Students will not be allowed to use instructional time to make these arrangements.

3rd offense:

• Teacher/administrator/staff confiscates phone and turns it into the office.

• Parent/guardian will be contacted.  

• Parent/Guardian will need to come to school and retrieve phone between 2:50-3:30.

• 180 school day ban on cell phone at school

• Failure to relinquish phone will result in 1 day of OSS.

• NOTE: The phone WILL NOT be released to the student- only to a parent/guardian, so it is the responsibility of the student to arrange for cell phone pick-up. Students will not be allowed to use instructional time to make these arrangements.

Violation during a banned period

Students caught in violation of the cell phone policy during a time in which the phone is banned may be subject to the following:

• OSS 3-10 days

If a student is found using a cell phone for any of the purposes listed below:

• Filming fights

• Used to take inappropriate or illicit photographs

• Used to transmit inappropriate ot illicit photographs

• Make bomb threats or fraudulent calls to a school or police and/or emergency management service(s)

• Used in any other manner that would require more severe disciplinary action

May result in the following:

• loss of cell phone privileges for 360 school days

• involve law enforcement

• result in further disciplinary action,which could include punishment up to out of school suspension.

If a student has an emergency in which conversation on the cell phone is needed, the student must request permission from an administrator to use their phone for the conversation. The conversation shall occur in privacy of the administrator's office. Parents/Guardians are asked not to call or text students during the school day. If there is a family emergency, parents/guardians should call the office so that the student may be brought to the office to receive or make a call.

Administrators may authorize individual students to use wireless communication devices for personal purposes when there is a reasonable need for such communication.