On Sept. 8, the Polk School District Board of Education approved a new cell phone and electronic use procedure. The new procedure is designed to provide a learning environment that is conducive to teaching and learning without interference of cell phone or electronic device use during the course off the instruction day in areas such as, but not limited to, classrooms, hallways, cafeterias, restrooms, and locker rooms.

This new procedure only applies to middle and high school students.

Electronic devices include but are not limited to, cell phones, Walkmans, CD players, boom boxes, electronic games and toys, laser pointer, MP3 players, iPods, and Blue tooth earpieces. Polk School District will not be responsible for any damaged, lost, or stolen cell phones or electronic devices during the course of the school day. A student requiring the use of an electronic device for health or other unusual reasons shall have on file in the principal’s office a statement from a licensed physician certifying that such a device in necessary for the health of the student.

Use shall be defined as the device being turned on or otherwise activate whether or not sending or receiving a call, message, or other communication, or using any feature of the device including, but not limited to, games, cameras, instant text messages, etc.

Display shall be defined as possession in such manner than any portion of said device is visible to others.

School day shall be defined for purposes of these procedures as commencing from the time the students arrive on the campus until school is dismissed at the end of the school day. Students are not to use or display cell phones and electronic devices until they are outside of the school building. Additionally, use or display of such device shall not be permitted in any testing, instructional setting and/or buses. The only exception is during afterschool extracurricular activities.

Parents/guardians will be informed of the new procedure beginning Sept. 16. Students will be granted a one-week grace period. However, effective Sept. 23, the following new procedures will be implemented:

First offense – Cell phone and/or device will be confiscated and turned in to the principal or designee and will be held for 30 days. Parent/Guardian may pick up cell phone and/or device at the close of the thirtieth day the cell phone/electronic device ahs been withheld.

Second offense – cell phone and/or device will be confiscated and turned in to the principal or designee and will be held for 90 days. Parent/guardian may pick up cell phone and/or device at the close of the ninetieth day the cell phone/electronic device has been withheld.

Third offense – Cell phone and/or device will be confiscated and turned in to the principal or designee and will be held for the remainder of the school year. Parent/Guardian may pick up cell phone and/or device at the close of the last day of the school year.

Each principal shall have all students and parents to sing stating they understand the new cell phone/electronic device procedures; have a secure place to house the call phones confiscated. Each cell phone and/or electronic device shall be labeled and kept in a secure place; and have a notebook for quick references for violators of the procedures.