New Cell Phone Policy For Muscogee County School District

The Muscogee County School Board has a new cell phone policy for students. It goes into effect for the 2009-2010 school year. Valerie Fuller, the Director of Communications issued the following News Release:
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Date: July 20, 2009

NEWS RELEASE

New Cell Phone Procedures

(Columbus, GA)-The Muscogee County School District implements new cell phone procedures for middle schools and high schools for the 2009-2010 school year. The new procedures are designed to provide a learning environment that is conducive to teaching and learning without the interference of cell phone use during the course of the instructional day in areas such as, but not limited to, hallways, cafeterias, bathrooms, and locker rooms. According to the current district policy, students are not allowed to use electronic devices, including cell phones, during the course of the school day. Elementary students are not allowed to have cell phones.

Parents and students will be informed of the new procedures prior to school. Students will be granted a two (2) week grace period. However, effective August 20, 2009, the following new procedures will be implemented:

1st Offense- Cell phone will be turned in to the principal or designee.
Parent may pick-up the phone after three (3) school days.

Parent may pick-up phone at the close of the school day for thirty (30) minutes (2:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. for High School and 3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. for Middle School) or give an adult written permission to pick-up so schools may verify by asking for identification of the adult picking up the phone).

2nd Offense-Student assigned administrative detention.
Parent may pick-up phone after five (5) school days at the end of the school day. (See 1st Offense)

3rd Offense- Student assigned In-School Suspension for two (2) days.
Parent may pick up the phone after ten (10) school days.
Mandatory parent conference is held.

4th Offense- Student will be suspended out of school for two (2) days for each
offense due to defiance.

Parent may pick-up phone at the end of the school day.
(See 1st Offense)

If the parent/guardian is adamant that he or she cannot allow the phone to be held for the number of days listed in the proposed procedures, then the parent/guardian chooses for his or her son/daughter/ward to accept a two (2) day out-of school suspension in lieu of the phone being held.

In addition, each principal should:

Ø Have all students and parents to sign stating that they understand the new cell phone procedures.

Ø Have a secure a place to house the cell phones confiscated.
Each phone should be labeled and kept in a secure place.

Ø Have a notebook for quick references for violators of the new cell phone procedures
(documentation sheets are attached).

Ø Identify the person or persons to receive confiscated cell phones in the building.