Possession of Electronic or Cellular Communication Devices and Smart Watches

Students may possess Electronic and Cellular Communication Devices and Smart Watches on Tazewell County Public Schools (TCPS) property and at sponsored activities. The information that follows establishes:

• A set of guidelines for proper use of the devices.

• Disciplinary actions for violation of the guidelines.

• A (TCPS) agreement form provided by the student’s home school administration for parents and students to sign prior to the administration granting approval for use of the devices established in this Policy.

• School administration may approve clubs, groups, or individual students cell phone usage during the academic day for medical or instructional reasons.

Guidelines:

1. Students may house electronic or cellular communication devices on school property during the operational hours of the regular school day.

2. Use is permitted during non-instructional times – prior to the beginning of the instructional school day (8:00 a.m.) and after dismissal from the instructional school day (3:00 p.m.)

3. Ear-buds or head phones may not be used.

4. Device(s) must be silenced and housed in lockers for middle and high school students and in backpacks for elementary students.

5. Cellular devices will not be used for instructional purposes. Students must use school issued Chromebooks or other school issued devices for classroom instructional activities.

6. At no time during the instructional school day will communication devices be used to take pictures, videos, or audio recordings:

• Anytime during the instructional school day.

• In bathrooms or dressing rooms (physical education or athletic).

• On any form of TCPS transportation.

7. Communication devices will not be permitted in any testing environment.

8. Electrical access for charging communication devices is not the responsibility of TCPS.

9. All communication devices will be silenced:

• During the school day.

• In student lockers.

• On any form of TCPS transportation.

10. No Tolerance - Dissemination of information via audio recordings, pictures, or videos that results in student conflict, school disruption, and/or involvement of law enforcement.

11. Tazewell County Public Schools will assume no financial restitution or replacement responsibility under any circumstance for the loss, theft, or damage of a student’s personal Electronic Communication or Cellular Device, Smart Watch, or peripheral devices used with any device on TCPS property or at TCPS sponsored activity or event.

Disciplinary Actions for Misuse of Personal Electronic or Cellular Communication Devices and Smart Watches

Less Severe Offenses – Device used during instructional time, device sound or vibration that disrupts class, using someone else’s device without permission, wearing both earbuds or headphones in hallway during class changes, and displaying disrespectful attitude when being corrected for violating agreement and policy.

1st Offense: Administration confiscation of device, notify parent, and relinquish to parent.

2nd Offense: Administration confiscation of device, notify parent, relinquish to parent, and one (1) day in-school suspension.

3rd Offense: Administration confiscation of device, notify parent, relinquish to parent, and three (3) day in-school suspension.

4th Offense: Administration confiscation of device, notify parent, relinquish to parent, and five (5) days at the TCPS Placement Academy.

5th Offense: Considered an act of defiance resulting in loss of privilege to possess device on TCPS property, parent notification, and relinquishing of device to parent. Refer to Tazewell County School Board Policy Regulation JFC-R.1 B, number 3 under Minor Classroom Disturbances -- 3rd Offense: Offenses become significant; and the definition for Significant Classroom Disturbances under number 2 -- Students shall not engage in conduct that is or is intended to be disruptive of any school activity, function or process of the school or is dangerous to the health or safety of students or others. Acts which cause substantial disruption of learning opportunities and/or threaten the safety of other students that include multiple minor offenses, profanity, obscenity, vulgarity, and disrespect.

Severe Offenses - Dissemination of information in any format including, but not limited to, Social Media transmitted via electronic or other cellular device (including Smart Watches or other Smart technology) that results in student conflict, school disruption, and/or involvement of law enforcement.

1st Offense: Loss of privilege to possess device on TCPS property and five (5) day out-of-school suspension.

2nd Offense: Ten (10) day out-of-school suspension.

3rd Offense: Ten (10) day out-of-school suspension with recommendation TCPS School Board Disciplinary Committee for long term suspension up to 45 days or expulsion of 365 days.

Dudley Primary School