High School Cell Phone and Mobile Device Policy

York High School Cell Phone and Mobile Device Policy

York International believes that personal technology devices may be useful tools for students before and after school and can play a vital communication role during emergency situations. However, use of personal technology devices in school situations must be regulated to assure that the use of such devices does not disrupt or interfere with the educational process or school operations.

To support student engagement with an environment free of distractions during class time, and in accordance with Mapleton’s board approved policy,  mobile electronic communication and listening devices such as cell phones, iPods, earbuds, and headphones:

• Must remain off or silent and completely out of view inside a backpack or purse during class time.
• May not be stored in pockets during class time.
• May be used before school, after school, during passing periods, and during lunch.
• May not be used in bathrooms or any other location where such use could violate another person’s reasonable expectation of privacy.
• May not be used to take a photo image of anyone without their knowledge or permission.

Students with a 504 or IEP which allows for music during class as a reasonable accommodation may use a non-touchscreen music player for this purpose. School administration may confiscate student mobile devices for violations of this policy or the district cell phone policy.

Families and students may use the main office when communicating messages from home or school. The campus is not responsible for any damaged, lost, or stolen electronic device. Faculty may develop their own system of classroom phone storage that students may choose to use, such as a container, hanging pockets, charging stations, a cabinet, etc.

Teachers may seek exemptions to this policy from York administration for specific classes requiring the use of mobile communications devices.

When a violation of this policy occurs, York teachers and administration will follow the process outlined below. Mapleton administration may deviate from these steps as needed.

• 1^st violation - student is issued a verbal warning by staff. This warning is issued only one time per staff member per student, not one time per day.
• 2^nd offense – Staff contacts the front office to ask for support. Office staff or admin will come to the classroom, receive a verbal brief from the teacher, and will then escort the students to the front office. Office staff or administration will contact parents. Student may return to class when they’ve turned in their mobile device to the office, where it will be locked in a lockbox. The device will be returned to the student at the end of the day.
• 3^rd offense – Same as 2^nd offense, except parents will be asked to come to school to retrieve the device and have a meeting with school administration.
• 4^th offense – Same as 3^rd offense, except student will be place on a mobile device contract that may require them to turn in their phone to the front office every day.