During their meeting Tuesday, the Anderson School District One Board discussed proposed changes to the district policy on use of telecommunications devices including cell phones and paging devices.
The policy has been in effect for a number of years and is being updated.
The policy states cell phones or paging devices are not allowed and cannot be used or visible during the regular academic day. Paging devices are to be stored out of sight, in pockets , back packs, lockers, or cars.
It does state that telecommunication devices are allowed during the school day with the permission and under the direct supervision of the classroom teacher for educational purposes.
The policy allows use of devices in the school building after the regular school day has ended or during non-instructional portions of the day such as before school and during lunch at the discretion of the school principal.
Devices are not allowed if they disrupt the safe operation of a school bus or they affect the safety of students boarding or disembarking the school bus.
Devices are not allowed to be on, used or visible in any area where students or staff have an expectation of privacy including but not limited to health rooms, restrooms, locker rooms, dressing rooms, school offices on in other areas of the school where use is not expressly authorized.
Inappropriate material and violating the district’ s student code of conduct is prohibited.
Violations can result in a warning to the student, a parent conference, in school suspension, a day of school suspension to a student being prohibited from possessing or using a device at school for the remainder of the year. A fourth violation results in three days of out-of-school suspension and retention of the device until the end of the school year.
A second policy involves code of conduct on a school bus.
The policy revises the use of a telecommunication device that could distract or otherwise jeopardize safety. Cell phones will be allowed if a student listens to music or is playing a game on the bus ride.
If it causes a problem, at the discretion of the bus driver, for a first offense a student could receive a verbal warning and a bus report sent to the parent. Additional offenses could result in suspension from riding the bus.
The policy also prohibits eating or drinking, standing or sitting improperly, violating safety procedures, riding the wrong bus without permission of the principal, making loud noises, punching, tripping or horseplay, encouraging others to misbehave, defacing property, littering, possession or use of tobacco products including e-cigarettes, throwing objects out of the bus, throwing objects on the bus, refusing to sit in an assigned seat, using profanity, abusive language or obscene gestures, having hands, arms or head out of bus window or door.
Other disruptive behaviors includes using rude or discourteous behavior toward the bus driver or other passengers, disobeying a bus driver, harassing, threatening, intimidation, physically abusing, or hitting another student or fighting.
Added to the policy: disrupting the operation of a school bus/distracting bus driver through the use of technology.
