Students get wired. District looks at electronics policy
As new forms of technology have become more and more present and commonplace in our society, how to handle these devices in the schools is becoming an issue for teachers and school administrators.

Clearly teachers do not want cell phones ringing during class time, nor do they want students listening to music when they should be listening to a lesson. However, since cell phones and ipods are used daily by many students in the district, banning the items altogether is not the answer either.

Beyond typical concerns regarding cell phone usage in school, newer cell phones, which allow users not only to make phone calls but also text messaging, taking pictures and internet access, bring further concerns and complications. Cell phones now are possible tools for cheating, pornography and taking inappropriate photographs.

At the Lincoln County School District No. 2 board meeting held on Sept. 13, a new policy was approved on second reading regarding student use of electronic communication devices.

The policy reads:
“Students may possess and use cellular telephones, pagers, or other electronic communications devices, subject to the limitations of this and other policies of the District.”

“Electronic communications device” is a device that emits an audible signal, vibrates, displays a message or otherwise summons or delivers a communication to the possessor. Use of an electronic communications device shall be limited to the period before classes begin in the morning, during passing periods, during the student’s lunch period, and after the student’s last class in the afternoon. Such devices shall not be used during instructional time.”

“Building principals may circulate rules to enforce this policy at the building level. Students violating this policy will be subject to disciplinary actions as deemed appropriate by the building administrator.”

“Inappropriate use of an electronic device for downloading or sharing of pornography, cyber-bullying, taking of photos in the locker room, or other actions judged by the administration as inappropriate, may result in the confiscation of the device and banning of the use of any electronic device by that student for the remainder of their enrollment within Lincoln County School District No. 2.”

“The above guidelines are minimum requirements for schools established by the district. School administrators in consultation with faculty, parents, and students may establish more guidelines, as needed for their schools.”

While one board member wanted to ban all cell phones completely from the school, he was in the minority. Star Valley High School Principal Shannon Harris was one of the majority in favor of allowing some usage of cellphones and other devices by students at SVHS.

“Kids today are growing up in different times than we did,” Harris said. “Technology is a part of their daily life. If we can encourage students to use technology appropriately and responsibly, then it is a win-win situation.”

While this district-wide policy will be new once adopted, it will not have a direct impact on Star Valley Middle School and Star Valley High School students, as both SVMS and SVHS already have policies regarding the use of electronic devices in place.

Here is a look at what electronic devices can and can’t be used, at what times and under what conditions at SVMS and SVHS.

Star Valley High School students are only allowed to use cell phones at school before and after school or during passing periods or lunch time. Cell phones and other similar electronic devices cannot be used in any classrooms, locker rooms, restrooms, the auditorium or any instructional setting at any time at Star Valley High School.

If a students is found to have a cell phone when they should not, for a first time offense, the consequence is that the phone is confiscated and the student can pick up the phone at the end of the day, after signing a contact acknowledging the school’s cell phone use policy and the consequences for subsequent offenses.

After a second offense, the phone is confiscated and a parent has to come to the school to retrieve it, and the parent has to sign a contract acknowledging the school’s cell phone use policy and the consequences for subsequent offenses.

After a third offense, the phone will be confiscated and will be kept for 60 days, at which time it will be returned to a parent who comes to pick it up.

There is no tolerance for pornography or similar offenses. These above guidelines and policies are in place in the SVHS policy handbook and they were discussed and decided upon with administrators, teachers and a parent advisory committee.

Regarding the use of ipods and other similar devices, while the Star Valley High School handbook states that ipods are banned from classrooms. At the beginning of thid school year it was decided to change that policy. The use of ipods in a classroom is now left to the discretion of each teacher or instructor.

Some situations in which a teacher may allow the use of ipods would be during an art class and at times when students are working independently in class. This change to SVHS policy will be reflected in the SVHS handbook next year.

Star Valley Middle School students are required to have their cellphones turned off and in their locker during the school day, from as soon as they enter the school. If there is an emergency or urgent situation in which a student needs to use a cell phone, he or she can bring their phone to the office and ask for special permission to use it there in the office.

If a cell phone is seen or heard being used at any other time or place at SVMS, the phone will be taken away and a parent will have to go to SVMS to retrieve the phone. IPODs, Gameboys and other similar electronics are not allowed to be used in school at any time. Those items are however permitted (at the discretion of the teacher or supervisor) on field trips and on school buses.