3245 Students and Telecommunication Devices
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Students in possession of telecommunications including, but not limited to, pagers, beepers and cellular phones, while on school property or while attending school-sponsored or school-related activities shall observe the following conditions:
- Telecommunication devices shall be turned on and operated only before and after the regular school day and during the student’s class breaks, unless an emergency situation exists that involves imminent physical danger or a school employee authorizes the student to use the device.
- Students shall not use telecommunication devices in a manner that poses a threat to academic integrity, disrupts the learning environment or violates the privacy rights of others.
- Students shall not send, share, view or possess pictures, text messages, emails or other material depicting sexually explicit conduct, as defined in RCW 9.68A.011, in electronic or any other form on a cell phone or other electronic device, while the student is on school grounds at school sponsored events, or on school buses or vehicles provided by the district.
- When a school official has reasonable suspicion, based on objective and articulable facts, that a student is using a telecommunications device in a manner that violates the law or school rules, the official may confiscate the device, which shall only be returned to the student’s parent or legal guardian.
- By bringing a cell phone or other electronic devices to school or school-sponsored events, the student and their parent/guardian consent to the search of the device when school officials have a reasonable suspicion, based on objective and articulable facts, that such a search will reveal a violation of the law or school rules. The scope of the search will be limited to the violation of which the student is accused. Content or images that violate state or federal laws will be referred to law enforcement.
- Students are responsible for devices they bring to school. The District shall not be responsible for loss, theft or destruction of devices brought onto school property or to school-sponsored events.
- Students shall comply with any additional rules developed by the school concerning the appropriate use of telecommunication or other electronic devices.
- Students who violate this policy will be subject to disciplinary action, including suspension or expulsion.
Cross References:
Board Policy 2022 Electronic Resources
3207 Prohibition of Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying
3241 & 3241P Classroom Management, Corrective Actions or Punishment
4310 Relations with Law Enforcement Agencies, Child Protective Agencies and County Health Department
Management Resources:
Policy News, Feb. 2004 Evolution of Cell Phone Use
Policy News, June 2010 Students and Sexting
Policy News, Oct. 2010 Students and Telecommunications Devices Revisited
ADOPTED: 05/27/2004
REVISED: 07/22/10; 02/24/11Procedure No. 3245P Students and Telecommunication Devices
Definitions:- Sexting means sending, forwarding, displaying, retaining, storing or posting sexually explicit, lewd, indecent or pornographic photographs, images or messages by or on a cell phone, computer or other electronic means during school hours or school activities on or off campus; while on school district property, during any recess, lunch or leave periods on or off school district property; or beyond the hours of school operation if the behavior detrimentally affects the personal safety or well-being of school-related individuals, the governance, climate or efficient operation of the school; or the educational process or experience.
- Disrupting the Learning Environment: means any intentional gesture, any intentional electronic communication or any intentional written, verbal or physical act or statement initiated, occurring, transmitted or received by a student at school that a reasonable person under the circumstance should know will have the effect of:
1. Insulting, mocking or demeaning a student or group of students causing substantial disruption in, or substantial interference with, the orderly operation of the school; or
2. Creating an intimidating, threatening, hostile or abusive educational environment for a student or group of students through substantially severe, persistent or pervasive behavior. - Third parties include, but are not limited to coaches, school volunteers, parents or guardians, school visitors, service contractors or others engaged in district business or activities that are not directly subject to District control at inter-district and intra-district athletic competitions or other school events.
Reporting Violations:
Any student, employee, parent or guardian or third party who has knowledge of conduct in violation of this policy or any student who feels they have been a victim of sexting, menacing, retaliation or reprisal in violation of this policy shall immediately report the concerns to:- The building principal or designee;
- A teacher who will be responsible for notifying the building principal or designee immediately if the matter cannot be adequately addressed by the teacher, or warrants administrative intervention;
- A counselor, who is responsible for notifying the building principal or designee immediately if the matter cannot be addressed by the counselor or is sufficiently serious to warrant administrative intervention; or
- The superintendent of schools or designee.
Investigating:
The principal or designee shall be responsible for timely investigating a complaint made under this policy. The investigation, witness statements and evidence shall be documented along with the outcome of the investigation.
In the course of the investigation, administrative staff will not send, receive or unnecessarily view or transmit sexting photographs or any other inappropriate images on either the district’s or their personal electronic devices. The examination or viewing of the evidence/information will be limited to the extent necessary to determine that misconduct occurred.
Parent or Guardian Notification:
Parents or guardians of all students identified in the report shall be notified of the investigation and informed of their students’ involvement in the incident.
Discipline:
Students whose behavior violates this policy will be subject to discipline up to and including expulsion. Law enforcement will also be notified when conduct may violate criminal laws.
In addition to discipline, the district will assist students and/or parents or guardians to resolve concerns and issues prior to the use of the formal criminal complaint process. These interventions may include consultation, counseling, education, mediation and/or other opportunities for problem-solving.
In imposing discipline the administrator will take into consideration the context of the events, all relevant circumstances, and the parties’ prior behavior, the nature of the behavior and its potential harm and the emotional and/or physical harm resulting from the reported party’s actions. Exceptional misconduct penalties may be imposed, if in the opinion of the administration it is warranted.
Sexting Offenses
First offense:- Parents or guardians will be notified;
- The district will file an information report with the police by phone or in writing;
- The student’s phone or electronic device will be confiscated, searched and returned only to a parent or guardian;
- The student will receive a short-term, out-of-school suspension or an in-school suspension; and
- The district may impose appropriate interventions.
Second offense:
- Parents or guardians will be notified;
- Police will be notified;
- The student’s phone or electronic device will be confiscated, searched and returned only to a parent or guardian;
- The student will receive a long-term suspension; and
- The student will be ineligible to participate in extracurricular activities.
Third offense:
- Parents or guardians will be notified;
- Police will be notified;
- The student’s phone or electronic device will be confiscated, searched and returned only to a parent or guardian;
- The student will be expelled; and
- The student will be ineligible to participate in extracurricular activities.
ADOPTED: 07/22/2010
3000 Policies
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QUALIFICATIONS OF ATTENDANCE AND PLACEMENT
3110 Admission and Attendance
3114 Part-time, Home-based, or Off-Campus Students
3115 Students Experiencing Homelessness: Enrollment Rights and Services
3116 Students in Foster Care
3120 Enrollment
3122 Excused and Unexcused Absences
3123 Withdrawal Prior to Graduation
3124 Removal of Student during School Hours
3125 Release of Student during School Day
3126 Child Custody
3131 District Attendance Area Transfers
3140 Release of Resident Students
3141 Nonresident Students
3142 International Exchange Students
3143 District Notification of Juvenile Offenders
STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
3200 Student Rights and Responsibilities
3205 Sexual Harassment of Students Prohibited
3207 Prohibition of Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying
3210 Nondiscrimination
3211 Gender-Inclusive Schools
3220 Freedom of Expression
3223 Freedom of Assembly
3224 Student Dress
3225 School-Based Threat Assessment
3226 Interviews and Interrogations of Students on School Premises
3230 Student Privacy and Searches
3231 Students Records
3232 Parent and Student Rights in Administration of Surveys Analysis or Evaluations
3235 Protection of Student Personal Information
3240 Student Conduct Expectations and Reasonable Sanctions
3241 Student Discipline
3242 Closed Campus
3243 Student Driving
3244 Prohibition of Corporal Punishment
3245 Students and Telecommunication Devices
3246 Use of Isolation, Restraint and Other Uses of Reasonable Force
STUDENT WELFARE
3410 Student Health
3412 Automated External Defibrillators (AED)
3413 Student Immunization and Life Threatening Conditions
3414 Infectious Diseases
3415 Accommodating Students with Diabetes
3416 Medication at School
3417 Catheterization
3418 Response to Student Injury or Illness
3419 Self-Administration of Asthma and Anaphylaxis Medications
3420 Anaphylaxis Prevention and Response
3421 Child Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation Prevention
3422 Student Sports – Concussion, Head Injury and Sudden Cardiac Arrest
3424 Opioid-Related Overdose Reversal
3432 Emergencies
STUDENT ACTIVITIES
3510 Associated Student Bodies
3515 Student Incentives
3520 Student Fees, Fines, Charges
3530 Student Fund Raising Activities Involving Students