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Cell phone policy adopted Only high school students may carry phones during school day
Restrictions on student cell phone use in the Ely schools are now official.
School board members gave final approval this week to changes to the district’s student handbook, adopting them on a 5-0 vote with Jennifer Westlund absent.
The restrictions expand a ban on cell phone possession, adding middle school students (grades 6-8) to an already existing restriction that covered elementary (grades K-5) students.
Meanwhile, high schoolstudents in grades 9-12 will be allowed to possess cell phones but must keep them “out of sight completely.”
“In grades 9-12, phones have to be out of sight and you should not be able to hear cell phones during any sort of instructional period,” said superintendent Anne Oelke. “The moment they’re seen or heard, they can be taken.”
High school Students would be allowed to use their phones before or after school, during passing times and lunch.
All other students must keep their phones turned off and in their locker during the school day.
The policy allows teachers to take a phone away from a student, or call the principal to do so, if students are observed in violation of the policy.
New state law requires schools to put a cell phone policy in place, and Ely is getting on board with many other school districts in restricting how - or even if - students may use their phones.
Ely administrators and faculty discussed changes at the end of the school year and Oelke said the district also reviewed model policies sent out by state organizations.
The changes were approved without significant board discussion this week, but members offered their endorsement when the policy had first and second readings last month.
