PURPOSE
The West Warwick Public Schools recognizes that its students need to be engaged in activities that promote 21st Century learning skills. Communication and collaboration are central tenets of the 21st Century learner. Many students’ lives today are filled with media that gives them mobile access to information and resources whenever and wherever needed. The West Warwick Public Schools has developed a secure, centrally-managed wireless infrastructure that can support personal wireless devices.
The West Warwick Public Schools provides district issued individual student devices for academic needs but will allow students to use personal technology devices at the discretion of teachers and building administrators for academic purposes. In some instances to maintain an academic environment that is free from distraction such as social media influence, peer to peer texting, etc., students may be required to put personal smart devices in secure storage pouches provided by the WWPS.
Students and parents who wish to participate in BYOD must both sign the BYOD user student agreement, and also must follow the policies stated in the WWPS Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) as well as the following requirements.
DEVICE TYPES
For the purpose of this program, the word “device” means a privately owned wireless and/or portable electronic piece of equipment that includes laptops, netbooks, tablets/slates, iPod Touches, smart phones and devices that can connect to a wireless infrastructure.
REQUIREMENTS
Any student who wishes to use a personally owned electronic device within the West Warwick Public Schools must read and sign this agreement, as well as their legal guardian, and submit to the building principal. If the student intends to use multiple devices they will need to sign multiple copies of this document with the relevant information.
This policy must be renewed by students and parents at the start of each new school year with the appropriately updated information.
The student accepts full responsibility for his or her device and shall keep it with himself or herself at all times, and when directed, secure the device in a district-provided storage pouch. The West Warwick Public Schools is not responsible for the security of the device.
The student shall be responsible for the proper care of their personal device, including any costs of repair, replacement or any modifications needed to use the device at school.
The school reserves the right to inspect a student’s personal device if there is reason to believe that the student has violated WWSC policies, administrative procedures, school rules or has engaged in other misconduct while using their personal device.
Violations of any WWSC policies, administrative procedures or school rules involving a student’s personally owned device may result in the loss of use of the device in school and/or disciplinary action.
The student shall comply with teachers’ requests to shut down the device.
Personal devices shall be charged prior to bringing it to school and shall be capable of running off its own battery while at school.
The student shall not use the devices to record, transmit or post photos or video of a person or persons on campus, nor shall any images or video recorded at school be transmitted or posted at any time without the express written permission of the appropriate school official.
The student shall only use their device to access relevant files in accordance with our Student AUP.
The student will use the guest wireless network. Use of wireless connections (4G, 5G) via an outside telecommunications carrier shall not be allowed.
Secure Device Storage (When Required)
Each student will be assigned a secure storage pouch (SSP), the SSP is considered school property, it is the responsibility of each student to bring their SSP with them to school each day and to keep it in good working condition.
The “academic school day” is defined as the start of the school day and throughout the day until student dismissal is over. Students are permitted to use cell phones only during the following times: before and after school hours outside or inside the school building and at after-school or sports activities, only with the permission of the coach, instructor, or program director.
The SSP is considered school property and damage or loss of the SSP may result in the student being responsible for the cost of a replacement SSP. Students who fail to adhere to guidelines for storage as outlined in the BYOD policy may be subject to disciplinary action as outlined in the student code of conduct.
As students arrive to school, they will:
Turn off their personal smart device (cell phone, airpods/earbuds, and smart watch)
Place their phone and other smart devices inside their SSP and lock it in front of school staff
Store their pouch in their backpack for the day
This process may take a few minutes. Students are responsible for getting to class on time with a secured pouch.
During the School Day:
Keep their phone, airpods/earbuds, and smart watch inside their SSP for the duration of the school day.
Students may not access their phone during the school day anywhere on school grounds unless they are leaving school grounds. *Students leaving early will unlock their phone in the Main Office.
End of School Day:
When a student’s school day ends, unlock their pouch using the unlocking base.
Remove their phone from their pouch.
Securely close their empty pouch and place it in their backpack for the next day.
Students are free to use their phones on school grounds after school ends unless they are required to attend after-school detention.
Student & Guardian Agreement
As a student I understand and will abide by the above policy and guidelines. I further understand that any violation of the above may result in the loss of my network and/or device privileges as well as other disciplinary action in accordance with WWSC policy.
As a parent I understand that my child will be responsible for abiding by the above policy and guidelines. I understand that should my child not adhere to the guidelines above, I may be requested to pick up the device at school, and my child may be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with WWSC policy. I have read and discussed them with her/him and they understand the responsibility they have in the use of their personal device.
_______________________________ __________________________
Device Serial Number
_______________________________ __________________________
Student’s Signature Date
_______________________________ __________________________
Parent’s Signature Date
Policy Adopted:
2/14/2012
Revision Date:
9/11/2024