EASTLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL – CELL PHONE POLICY
*Should a student not have this signed contract on file, he/she will lose the opportunity for a warning and have the cell phone privilege revoked for the remainder of the school year. Possession of a phone will result in the student being placed in In School Suspension (ISS)
Maintaining the integrity of the learning environment is the top priority
Students will be permitted to have cell phones at school, but they must remain silent and out of sight. This includes during instruction time and passing periods. It is highly recommended that phones are kept in a student's locker or backpack.
Cell phone use will only be permitted before the first bell, during lunch and after the last bell of the day.
There is no valid reason for a student to use their cell phone during the instructional day. This includes checking the time or contacting a parent. Phones are available in the classrooms and the office for students to call out on if the need arises. Parents are also welcome to call the school at 254-631-5040 if they need to get a message to their child.
Lunchtime cell phone use is a privilege. It is allowed as a convenience for students and parents to have a window of communication during the school day. During the allowed phone usage time on campus, students are not allowed to:
Video or take pictures of students and/or faculty.
Send messages with inappropriate content.
Post or upload content to social media.
Have their phones out in any restroom or locker room area.
The only exception to the above policies is as follows: cell phones used for specific instructional purposes will be permitted, with the teacher's explicit permission and supervision.
If a student is caught using a cell phone during class, in the halls, restroom, etc. the following consequences will apply:
● First Infraction - Confiscation of cell phone by teacher or school personnel. The cell phone will be sent to a school administrator's office. The cell phone will be returned to the student at the end of the school day.
● Second Infraction - Confiscation of cell phone by teacher or school personnel. The phone will be sent to a school administrator's office. Parents will be notified by school personnel. Administrator returns the cell phone to a parent.
● Third Infraction - Confiscation of cell phone by teacher or school personnel. The phone will be sent to a school administrator's office. Parents will be notified by the school personnel. The cell phone will be returned to a parent. There will be a revocation of cell phone privilege for up to the remainder of the school year.
Certain infractions will result in students immediately losing the privilege to carry a cell phone on campus. Additional consequences such as in/out of school suspension may also be enforced. This penalty will be decided by school administrators and includes, but is not limited to, infractions such as:
Taking inappropriate pictures or videos of any person.
Sending, posting, sharing, or viewing inappropriate content on any school property or at any school related event.
Taking any pictures or videos in a locker room or restroom area.
Harassing or making threats against any person or group of people
Refusing to give the device to a school official who requested it.
During times of testing and other student evaluations, teachers may request that students remove their cell phone from their possession reducing the possibility of compromised test security.