Starting this fall, Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation students’ mobile devices will be off, and inaccessible the entire school day.
The policy was adopted at the EVSC Board of Education Meeting on June 8. This change is required under new state law. The main difference between this policy and the previous, is the restriction against using the phone or mobile device even outside the classroom or during lunch.
While a simple policy on paper, there are a lot of ‘what if’ scenarios. Trustee David Hollingsworth asked about medical exceptions — such as when students monitor blood glucose level using their phone. (See full policy below.)
“I don't think teachers need to be tasked with something else,” he said. “‘What are you doing on your phone? You know, well, this is a medical device at this point, it's not a phone.’”
There are some built-in exceptions — such as for language translation, recording audio for notetaking, and in case of emergency.
There may be other exceptions. For example, when the school needs students to inform parents that they’re letting out early, said Superintendent Darla Hoover.
“We may ask for that, and say in that communication we sent home, ‘your student will be communicating with you,’” Hoover said. “That may be an example of a time when we'd say get your devices for that purpose.”
Hoover said they’re investigating other options for two-way communication between a student and home — to assuage a common concern from parents.
“There is some angst about students not being accessible that quickly,” she said, statewide.
The EVSC still needs to work out specific guidelines of the policy before school starts. Other questions center around where the phones are stored.
The EVSC BOE needed to set a general policy by July 1. Attorney Pat Shoulders suggested repercussions for any district that decides not to follow the state law.
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Policy: 4307 Section 4000 – Students WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICES
In accordance with state law, the School Board adopts the following policy prohibiting the use and possession of wireless communication devices (WCD) by students during the school day. School day is defined as the entire time a student is present on school property for the duration of an instructional day.
Devices brought to school must be powered off, stored away, and inaccessible to a student throughout the school day. For the purpose of this policy, WCD shall mean any wireless, web-enabled device capable of allowing voice/messaging/data communication between two (2) or more parties, whether it operates independently or through pairing with another device, including, but not limited to, cellular telephones, digital cameras, wearable technology (e.g., smartwatches, smart glasses, earbuds/AirPods/headphones or any similar device capable of connecting to a cell phone, cell tower, or internet), tablet and laptop computers, gaming devices, etc. Wearable technology shall be considered a WCD for purposes of this policy, regardless of whether it is actively connected during the school day.
The following circumstances are not considered violations of this policy, although schools may regulate these devices, including time and location of use: 1. using a school-supplied WCD or electronic device, when given permission from a teacher for educational purposes; 2. in the event of an emergency, as authorized by the superintendent or designee; 3. to manage the student’s documented medical condition pursuant to an order from a licensed health care provider, submitted to the school by a parent or guardian; 4. as included in a student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan; 5. as necessary for language translation when no school-managed device is available; and 6. use of an audio-only (no video) recording device for personal learning and notetaking assistance (subject to appropriate state and federal audio recording provisions).
Devices must be approved by the school prior to use and be visible to the teacher while in use. Devices shall be provided for inspection by school officials upon request, and recordings may not be used in any disciplinary, evaluative, or supervisory purposes against students or employees. Violations of this policy may result in disciplinary actions and confiscation of the device by a school administrator.
Students bringing WCD devices are personally responsible for the care and security of the device(s). Students shall have no expectation of confidentiality with respect to the WCD on school premises/property. The Board assumes no responsibility for theft, loss, damage, misuse, or unauthorized use of a student’s WCD brought onto its property.