SCS board approves student handbooks with new policy restricting cell phone use during school hours

scs-board-approves-student-handbooks-with-new-policy-restricting-cell-phone-use-during-school-hours

The Shelbyville Central Schools board approved the 2024-2025 student handbooks Wednesday at their final meeting of the current school year.

State law will prohibit students from having electronic devices like cell phones in the classroom beginning this next school year. The school system now has policy in place in its student handbooks for the high school, middle school and elementary schools.

The new policy in the high school handbook reads:

“Students may use cell phones or other electronic devices before school, after school, during passing periods in the cafeteria during lunchtime, and in the classroom when directed or allowed by the supervising teacher. Possession of an electronic device/cell phone in the classroom is not a violation; however, unauthorized use of cell phones may result in disciplinary consequences. Teachers may request that students put away their electronic devices during instructional time.”

The policy continues stating, “Repeated cell phone policy violations will result in level 2 disciplinary actions being taken at the administrator’s discretion. Using cell phones for camera, video, or pictures while on school property is prohibited without appropriate permission and may result in disciplinary action.”

The new rule is not violated when:

The middle school handbook has an added stipulation:

The elementary handbook recommends electronics such as mobile phones, portable video games, iPods, smart watches, etc., be left at home. If brought to school, it must be turned off and stored in student’s backpack and not accessed during the school day or at after school activities such as clubs or on the bus.

In other board business Wednesday:

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.