On November 19, the Las Virgenes Unified School District met with student representatives from both CHS andAgouraHigh Schoolto create a new cell phone policy.
AHS recently changed its cell phone policy, in order to experiment with a new one. Based on the results, the district is now working to create a policy that will be uniform for all schools.
“A single policy that is both realistic of student and staff needs while also allowing the use of cell phones in the classroom is a far more efficient and positive approach to addressing cell phones [usage] on campus,” said the Superintendant of LVUSD Dr. Donald Zimring.
CHS associated Student Body Board Representative and member of the journalism staff Jessy Morner-Ritt worked directly with the AHS Board Representative John Menges to draft the new policy. CHS English Department Chair Diane McEvoy and administrators helped write the proposal.
“I believe that the proposed policy is more progressive to today’s society,” said McEvoy. “It provides a policy that is more fair for the students.”
In addition to the new rules of the proposed policy, the disciplinary measures will also change. Students’ use of cell phones during class will be tracked through a referral system. Also, the administration will now be in charge of disciplinary action against students instead of the teachers.
On Tuesday December 6, the LVUSD Board discussed the change and the first reading was approved. There will now be further action steps taken before the cell policy is adopted as the district’s policy. •
The Current Policy:
• Students are given the right to possess cell phones during school hours
and school sponsored activities.
However, both teachers and students’ cell phones must be turned off during
school hours. This includes support, nutrition and lunch.
• The only time the cell phone is allowed to be turned on is before and
after school.
• If a student receives a phone call or is using his or her phone during
school hours, and if either incident becomes a disturbance in a classroom or
a school assembly, the phone is confiscated by a school staff member and is
then given to the administration. The student is then allowed to pick up his or
her phone at the end of the school day in the office.
• If this incident happens a second time, the phone is confiscated and a
parent/guardian meeting is scheduled with an administrator.
• If this incident happens a third time, the phone will be confiscated and
the student will not be able to get his or her phone back until the end of the
semester.
The Proposed Policy:
• Students are able to have their phones on during school hours; however,
they must be silenced and cannot be used during class hours in order not to
disrupt the class.
• Students are free to use their phones during passing periods and/or
nutrition.
• Students are also able to use their phones during instructional minutes, if permitted by a teacher and/or department.
