Board Votes to Restrict Student Cell Phone Use

Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, Indian River School District students in Grades K-12 will no longer be permitted to use cell phones in school buildings or on school buses.

Believing that cell phones, pagers and other communication devices are a disruption to the learning environment, the Indian River Board of Education approved the new regulations at its regular monthly meeting on July 22. The regulations are included in the district’s Student Discipline policy.

In Grades K-5, students are prohibited from possessing or using cell phones in the school building. In Grades 6-12, student cell phone use is prohibited in all areas inside the building, including classrooms, hallways, locker rooms, restrooms, shower facilities and the cafeteria. Middle and high school students may bring cell phones into the building, but the devices must be powered off and secured in lockers at all times. Communication with parents and guardians at all grade levels will be facilitated through the school’s main office.

In addition, students are prohibited from using cell phones on school buses during the ride to and from school and during school-sponsored activities.

Students must surrender cell phones and other communication devices upon request to school district personnel. Failure to do so will result in suspension.

Students who violate the provisions of the new policy will be subject to in-school suspensions, out-of-school suspensions, social probation, privilege restrictions and the confiscation of the cell phone. School principals are authorized to establish procedures to determine whether individual waivers from the policy are warranted.

The new cell phone regulations are included in district policy JG Student Discipline under “Suspendable Offenses.” Copies of the policy are available on the school district web site: http://www.irsd.net.

Anyone with questions about the cell phone regulations should contact their school’s principal.