EMPLOYEE USE OF PRIVATELY-OWNED CELL PHONES AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES

It is important for school employees to model the behavior we expect from our students regarding the use of cell phones and other privately-owned electronic devices during the school day and school activities. In order to avoid disruption to the educational process and school programs, employees are expected to turn off their devices and refrain from personal calls, emails, texts, use of social media and/or any other personal business while supervising students and/or performing assigned duties during work time.

It is understood that employees may occasionally have an emergency or urgent business that cannot wait for a scheduled break. However, employees are expected to exercise good judgment in this regard and keep personal business to an absolute minimum during work time.

Any use of an employee’s privately-owned device(s) to communicate with students or in the curriculum must be approved in advance by the building administrator.

Schools are required to retain records of correspondence regarding students and other school business. For this reason, and because of the difficulty of retrieving text messages and other communications on an employee’s private devices, employees are expected to use their school email account when communicating with students/families or conducting other school business.

Employees should be aware that when there is a suspected violation of school policies/procedures or laws involving an employee’s privately-owned device(s), there may be circumstances where a device(s) could be confiscated and searched.

The school unit is not responsible for damage, loss or theft of privately-owned cell phones and other electronic devices that employees bring to school.

Adopted: April 8, 2025