St. John implements new trial cell-phone plan at area high schools
Published 12:00 am Monday, October 1, 2007
Discipline Committee offering more freedom for student-parent communication
By JOHN HOWARD
Staff Reporter
RESERVE – The St. John Parish School Board Discipline Committee met Wednesday to formulate a new policy for cell phones in East St. John and West St. John High Schools.
The current policy states that cell phones are prohibited on campus. Students are not allowed to possess, use or have their cell phones turned on at school.
The committee came up with a new policy that will be presented to the St. John School Board at the October 4, 2007, meeting. The new policy will not go into affect unless the school board approves the proposal.
The new policy states that students are allowed to have cell phones in their possession, but the phones are not allowed to be visible. The phones are not allowed to be used and must also be turned off for the duration of the school day. The phones can be used after regular school hours.
The policy suggested is a pilot policy. This means the policy is temporary and the principal of the school has the authority to revert back to the original policy if he or she feels the new policy is not working.
There also are new disciplinary actions that will be taken in the event of a student violating the new rule.
On the first offense, the student’s phone will be confiscated for 48 hours before a parent can pick it up. In addition, the student will serve one day of in-school suspension.
On the second offense, the student’s phone will be confiscated for the duration of the school year and the student will lose phone possession privileges for the remainder of the school year. Also, the student must serve a three-day, in-school suspension.
Upon a third offense, the student’s phone will be confiscated for the duration of school year and the student will serve between three to nine days of out-of-school suspension. Depending on the severity of the offense, the student could receive a recommendation for expulsion.
The issue will be on the agenda for the regular school board meeting on October 4.
