Dubois School Board advances new cell phone policy prohibiting K-8 students from using personal devices at school

(Dubois, WY) – The Dubois School Board approved a new cell phone policy for students on first reading this week.

The proposed policy prohibits students in kindergarten through eighth grade from using cell phones or other personal electronic devices during the school day.

“Devices must remain turned off and stored in a backpack, purse, or locker during school hours,” the proposal states. “Any use during the school day requires prior approval from a teacher or building administrator.”

Under the district’s current policy, all students are allowed to use cell phones on campus before school begins, after school ends, and while traveling to and from school or school activities. 

Only high school students would maintain that privilege under the new proposal – but they’ll still have to turn their devices off and keep them non-accessible – in a backpack, purse, or locker – during instructional time “unless otherwise authorized by the teacher or building administrator for educational purposes.” 

Other portions of the current policy remained intact in the new version, including a general provision barring the use of cell phones or other devices for video recording, audio recording, or photography in locker rooms, bathrooms, “or any area where such use would violate another person’s privacy.”

Like the current policy, the new proposal also bans “cheating or academic dishonesty through electronic means, including texting or sharing information during class or testing.”

“Any student who violates this prohibition shall be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion,” the new policy states. “Unauthorized use of these devices disrupts the instructional program and distracts from the learning environment.”

Disciplinary actions for policy violations are similar in the new proposal, too:

• After a first offense, the device will be confiscated and returned to the students’ parent or guardians at the end of the school day.
• After a second offence, the student will also lose cell phone privileges “for a period of time as determined by the building administrator.”
• After a third offense, “additional disciplinary action may be taken as deemed appropriate by the building administrator, which may include suspension or a recommendation for expulsion.”

The board will consider the policy for final adoption during an upcoming meeting.

For more information, contact Fremont County School District 2 at (307) 455-5545.