Phone-Video-Sound Equipment Policy

PHONE-VIDEO-SOUND EQUIPMENT POLICY

According to Policy# 237, laser pens and other laser devices particularly capable of causing harm and disruption are prohibited from being in a student’s possession in school buildings, on school property, on school vehicles, and while attending school sponsored activities.

Owen J. Roberts High School students are permitted to use smartphones, tablets, audio listening devices, CD players, iPod or other such devices during the following non-instructional times: during lunch, between classes, before and after school including extracurricular events and on buses. When in use, students shall use headphones or ear buds to keep audio from being disruptive. However, when students enter and exit the classroom and during their entire time within the classroom, all audio listening devices shall not be in use, turned off and must be concealed until they enter an approved listening area.

Cell Phones

Owen J. Roberts High School students may use personal cell phones during the following non-instructional times: during lunch, between classes, before and after school including extracurricular events and on buses. However, when students enter and exit the classroom and during their entire time within the classroom, cell phones shall not be in use and must be concealed and muted unless the teacher has expressly permitted their use.

An exception to this policy, approved by the high school principal, will allow students to check their cell phones at the conclusion of the announcements at the end of sixth period with teacher permission.

Exceptions to the prohibitions set forth in this policy may be made for health, safety or emergency reasons with prior approval of the building principal or designee, or as required in the provision of a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) program for an exceptional student.

Discipline resulting from a violation of the above policies:

Student use of a cell phone or other electronic device during instructional time is prohibited. If a student is using a cell phone or an electronic device during instructional time and does not have teacher permission to do so, it is to be confiscated and delivered to the Main Office. The discipline for this policy violation is that the cell phone will not be returned to the student until a parent or guardian picks it up at the Main Office. The device will not be returned the to the student at the end of the day.

Use of Student-Owned Electronic Devices

Each student is provided access to a school-issued Chromebook for use while they are students at OJRHS. This is the preferred device to be used to access OJR’s learning systems and curriculum and is compatible with the systems and applications used by our staff. If a student chooses to use their own device (student owned laptop computers, phones, tablets or audio devices) use shall be restricted to classroom or instructional-related activities. Students shall comply with the guidelines set by Board policy, school officials, and the classroom teacher for the educational use of laptop computers, smartphones, phones, tablets or audio devices.

The District assumes no responsibility for the loss, theft, damage, or misuse of any electronic device that is brought into school buildings, onto school property, onto school vehicles, and while attending school-sponsored activities. (Board Policy 237)

The District reserves the right to define the educational value and place restrictions or prohibitions on the possession or use of any electronic device currently available, or that may become available in the future.

Student use of any personally owned electronic device, including but not limited to laptops/computers, tablets, cellular phones, smartphones, or audio devices shall adhere to the following regulations:

● Students shall comply with all local, state and federal laws related to personally owned technology.

● Students shall comply with all other applicable school rules including, but not limited to, no violations of academic integrity issues (cheating), bullying or any form of harassment, unauthorized sharing of assignments or information on assessments.

● Students shall not use devices to record, transmit, or post photographic images or video of a person or persons.

Violations or inappropriate use of student-owned electronic devices can result in the suspension of privileges and the appropriate disciplinary action.