Waitsburg School District To Restrict Cell Phone Use

WAITSBURG - Sometime during the past school year, a student approached Dr. Carol Clarke about an offensive text message the girl received on her cell phone.

Clarke asked if the student recognized the number. She did not, so Clarke asked her permission to try the number and when she did, another student answered his phone in class and the mystery was solved.

Clarke called in the caller's parents, informed them about the incident and the parents took the phone away.

If the Waitsburg School Board adopts a proposed new policy regarding the use of "telecommunications devices," the district itself will have the right to take away a cell phone.

The proposed new policy #3245 to be voted on by the board at its next regular meeting on Oct. 12 spells out appropriate uses of telecommunications devices, including, but not limited to pagers, beepers and cell phones while students are in school, on the school bus and at school-sponsored events.

The board conducted its first reading of the draft policy last Wednesday.

The devices may only be on before and after the regular school day and during lunch breaks, unless there's an emergency or the student has permission from school officials.

Students may not use their devices in a way that poses a threat to "academic integrity, disrupts the learning environment or violates others' privacy rights."

When it comes to content, no one is allowed to "send, share, view of possess pictures, text messages, emails or other material depicting sexually explicit conduct" while students are on school grounds, on the school bus or in other vehicles provided by the district.

This practice is sometimes referred to as "sexting" and its prohibition can extend beyond the hours of school operation if "they behavior detrimentally affects the personal safety or well-being of school-related individuals, the governance, climate or efficient operation of the school; or the educational process or experience.

Content or images that violate state or federal laws will be referred to law enforcement.

Under the new policy, school officials can confiscate the telecommunications device if they have "reasonable suspicion" that the student is using it in an inappropriate manner.

By bringing the device to school or a school-sponsored event, students and parents/ guardians automatically consent to have the phone searched if officials have "reasonable suspicion." If confiscated, the device will only be returned to parents or guardians.

In some respects, the new policy resembles the district's anti-harassment rules, when the use of cell phones turns into a form of bullying.

Anyone with knowledge of policy violations is urged to notify the principal, teacher designate, counselor or superintendent. If confirmed, the offense will be reported to parents or guardians of the student. The district files a report with law enforcement officials and imposes a short-term out-of-school suspension for the first offense, a long-term suspension and suspension of extra-curricular activities for the second offense, and expulsion for the third violation.