Humboldt public schools recently announced a change to the student cell phone policy for high school students, effective Aug. 21.
The new policy is similar to what has previously been in place for students at Humboldt Middle School.
According to the new policy, cell phones, wireless headphones, or other devices, such as a smart watch being used as a phone, must be turned off and “not visible” from 7:55 a.m. to 3:25 p.m. The policy also states phones and devices seen or heard during this time must be taken to the office.
Consequences listed in the handbook are as follows.
— First offense: Student turns the phone into the office. The student cannot pick it up until the end of the day. The student will serve 1 detention.
— Second offense: Phone taken and sent to the office. The student cannot pick it up until the end of the day. If it is a high school student, they will serve a “Friday school.” If it is a middle school student, they will serve two detentions.
— Third offense: Student turns the phone into the office. The student cannot pick it up until the end of the day. If the student is a high school student, they will serve a “Saturday school” and will turn in their phone to the office daily. If the student is a middle schooler, they will receive ISS.
The Friday and Saturday schools are detentions that take place outside of school hours.
The consequences will restart every semester, and the policy states that repeated violations may result in additional disciplinary consequences. It also states that any student who refuses to comply with a request to turn in their phone will be subject to disciplinary action.
When the district posted about the new policy on social media, many applauded the move, while others expressed concerns about access to communication.
The district stated: “To contact your child during the school day, please call the school office. In emergencies, we will use all available methods to notify families.”
These policies align with what other local districts are doing. Chanute Public School’s cell phone policy states that cell phones, wireless headphones, and other devices must be in the student’s locker from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Phones and devices will be taken by any staff member if visible during this time.
The policy also states students may be required to remove smart watches at teacher discretion.
Chante Public Schools has implemented the following consequences.
— First offense: Guardian must pick up the phone, and the student will owe one afterschool
detention.
— Second offense: Guardian must pick up the phone, and the student will owe two afterschool detentions.
— Third offense: Guardian must pick up the phone, and the student will serve one day in ISS, along with being required to turn their phone into the office daily.
Their policy also states that offenses will reset at the conclusion of each semester.
The Erie High School Student Handbook policy is more generalized.
“All schools in the district are considered to be ‘No Phone Zones’ for the students upon arrival to the building and during the remainder of the school day. All personal electronic devices are also not permitted during that same time period. This would include smart watches, headphones, and any other device with WiFi and/or Bluetooth capability. Exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis through the building administrator. Each school will have procedures and locations where phones and personal electronic devices can be safely secured while school is in session.”
Neodesha Public Schools does allow high school students’ use of phones outside of the classroom. However, junior high students are not allowed to have electronic devices in the building.
Their policy states: “Senior high students are not permitted to have personal electronic devices used within any classroom, bathroom, assemblies, or locker room in the building.
ZERO TOLERANCE. The appropriate use of personal electronic devices is: before and after school hours in the hallways; during the passing period in the hallways; and during the student’s lunch period. All electronic devices used at these times should be kept on ‘vibrate’ or ‘silent’ mode.”
The consequences are as follows: — First offense: an afterschool detention, and the student picks up the phone from the office at the end of the detention.
— Second offense: an afterschool detention, and the student picks up the phone from the office at the end of the detention.
— Subsequent offenses: an in-school suspension, and the student picks up the phone from the office at the end of the in-school suspension.
All policies are typically reviewed annually by the board of education. All of the schools noted here have updated student handbooks available to the public on their respective district websites.
