The San Juan Island School Board has adopted a policy regulating student use of personal telecommunication devices during school hours.
The policy was adopted Aug. 25. It reads:
SAN JUAN ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 149 POLICY: 3245
TELECOMMUNICATION DEVICES AND STUDENTS
While on school property or while attending school-sponsored or school-related activities, students shall not use personal telecommunication devices including but not limited to pagers, beepers and cellular phones in a manner that poses a threat to academic integrity, disrupts the learning environment or violates the privacy rights of others.
Students in possession of telecommunications devices and other related electronic devices shall observe the following conditions:
A. Telecommunication devices shall be turned on and operated only before and after the regular school day and during the student’s lunch break, unless an emergency situation exists that involves imminent physical danger or a school administrator authorizes the student to do otherwise.
B. Students shall not send, share, view or possess pictures, text messages, emails or other material of a sexually explicit nature 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.
C. Students who violate this policy will be subject to disciplinary action, including suspension or expulsion; and losing the privilege of bringing the device onto school property. In addition, an administrator may confiscate or with reasonable cause search the device, which shall only be returned to the student’s parent/guardian. Content or images that violate criminal laws will be forwarded to law enforcement.
D. By bringing a cell phone and other electronic devices to school or school-sponsored events, the student and parents consent to the search of the device when school officials have a reasonable suspicion that such a search will reveal a violation of school rules.
E. 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.
F. Students shall comply with any additional rules develop by the school concerning the appropriate use of telecommunication or other electronic devices.
