Students are permitted to possess cell phones on school property. Students may use cell phones on school property outside of regular school hours provided such use is not for illegal or unethical purposes.
Cell phones must be turned off and remain out of sight during class time, school activities, or when directed by school officials. If the cell phone is used, activated, or displayed at an unauthorized time, the student may be subject to disciplinary measures pursuant to the Code of Conduct.
If there is reasonable suspicion to believe that a student has violated or is violating the policy against the use, activation, or display of a cell phone, the cell phone may be confiscated, and/or the student may be subject to disciplinary measures. School officials may direct the student to turn the cell phone off and provide a reprimand for a first offense. Mere use, activation, or display of a cell phone, without more, shall not constitute reasonable suspicion for school officials to search the contents of the cell phone.
If a school official confiscates a student’s cell phone, the student must turn the cell phone off before turning it over to school officials. The device will be stored in the principal’s office and returned to the student at the end of the school day. It is the student’s responsibility to retrieve his/her cell phone at the end of the school day.
The cell phone will remain powered off while being stored by school officials. Under no circumstances shall school officials activate or examine the contents of the cell phone that was confiscated as a result of a student’s mere use, activation, or display of the device.
School officials shall not search the contents of the student’s cell phone absent reasonable suspicion to believe that a student has violated or is violating the law or a school rule or regulation beyond mere use, activation, or display of a cell phone at an unauthorized time. If there is reasonable suspicion to believe that the student has committed or is committing a serious violation of law or school rules and regulations and there is a reasonable suspicion to believe that a search of a cell phone will reveal evidence of such a violation that cannot be obtained otherwise, school officials may search the cell phone. The extent and scope of the search must be reasonably related to the objective of the search and not excessively intrusive in light of the age and sex of the student and the nature of the infraction. Efforts shall be made to limit the search to only those applications on the cell phone that would contain evidence of the suspected violation.
