Cell Phone

I. Cell Phones
 

1. The Fort Payne City School System’s policy on cellular phones is designed to ensure that the use of cellular phones does not interfere with teaching and learning during the school day.
2. The use of cell phones for any purpose- including telephone calls, text messaging, taking pictures, games and other functions- is not permitted during regular school hours, on school grounds or during school bus routes to and from school.
3. Cell phones must be stored or kept in the student’s vehicle, book bag or locker.
4. Cell phones must be turned off completely (not simply on silent or vibrate mode) during the school day.
5. Students participating in field trips, extracurricular activities, and athletic events must contact their coach or sponsor for his/her rules involving cell phone use after school hours or on after school bus trips. Coaches and sponsors will set their rules and establish consequences involving the use and/or misuse of these devices.
6. The use of camera phones is strictly forbidden on campus and especially in private areas, such as, locker rooms, washrooms, dressing areas, classrooms, bus routes and offices at any time. Camera phone violations may be treated as Level II or Level III offenses when necessary. Such use may also be in violation of the criminal code.
7. Any cell phone communication during the instructional day will take place on school telephones with permission from office personnel with the exception of emergency situations as deemed by the principal. Parents should continue to call the school for any emergency situation.
8. Possession of a cell phone by a student is a privilege which may be forfeited by any student not abiding by the terms of this policy. Students shall be personally and solely responsible for the security of their cell phones. The Fort Payne City School District shall not assume any responsibility for theft, loss, damage of a cell phone or unauthorized calls made on a cell phone.
9. Students in grades K-4 may not have cell phones at any time.
 

II. Other Electronic Devices

Other electronic devices such as, but not limited to, digital cameras, camcorders, PDA’s, MP3 players and headphones, may be used as part of the instructional process, with prior administrative and teacher authorization. Otherwise, these devices must not be visible during the instructional day. 
 
Students participating in field trips, extracurricular activities and athletic events must contact their coach or sponsor for his/her rules involving electronic device use after school hours or on field trips. Coaches and sponsors will set their rules and establish consequences involving the use and/or misuse of these devices. 
 
Possession of electronic devices by a student is a privilege which may be forfeited by any student not abiding by the terms of this policy. Students shall be personally and solely responsible for the security of their electronic devices. The Fort Payne City School District shall not assume any responsibility for theft, loss, or damage of electronic devices.
 

III. Violations

 
Any violations of the above policy will result in the following:
Possession or use of a cell phone/electronic device during a period when cell phone/electronic device privileges are suspended will be punishable as follows:
 

First offense: The first time a cell phone (or other electronic device) is taken up, the phone or electronic device will be held by the principal or designee.   The following school day, the parent/ guardian should call the school office between 7:30-3:30 and make arrangements with the principal or designee to pick up the phone.  Parent/ Guardians are REQUIRED to pick up the phone in person.

  
Second offense: The second time a cell phone (or other electronic device) is taken up, the phone will not be returned for one week (7days) and student will receive one day of in-school suspension.  A parent/guardian may retrieve the device from the principal or designee after seven days.  

Third offense:   The third time a cell phone (or other electronic device) is taken up the student will receive two days of in-school suspension, and the device will not be returned for thirty (30) days.
Subsequent offenses:  The next time a cell phone (or other electronic device) is taken up, the student will receive three days out-of-school suspension, and may be suspended to the Superintendent for additional disciplinary action.

The school is not responsible or liable for any lost or stolen electronic devices.
Students found to be using a cell phone or electronic device to break other school rules (i.e. cheating, disrupting class, text messaging, etc.) will be subject to punishment per the student code of conduct.

Alabama State Department of Education Policy Cell Phone/Digital Device in a Testing Setting

Cell Phone/Digital Device in a Testing Setting by Students
The possession of digital devices (including but not limited to cell phones, MP3 players, cameras, mobile entertainment, social connections, navigation devices, or other telecommunication devices) is strictly prohibited in the testing setting. Local education agency (LEA) school personnel will collect such devices before students can enter the testing room. If a device is in the possession of a student in the testing setting, testing for the student will cease, the device will be confiscated, the student will be dismissed from testing, and the student’s test will be invalidated. Additional disciplinary action may be taken by the LEA.

Cell Phone/Digital Device in a Testing Setting by School Personnel
School personnel involved in administration of state testing may not use digital devices (including but not limited to telephones, cell phones, MP3 players, cameras, mobile entertainment, social connections, navigation devices, or other telecommunication devices) during test administration. Violations may result in disciplinary action/certification revocation. Additional disciplinary action may be taken by the LEA.