Students are responsible for conducting themselves in a manner that respects the rights of others. Possession and use of any electronic device, whether district or student owned, that interferes with a positive, orderly classroom environment does not respect the rights of others and is expressly forbidden.

West Fork School District has implemented a no cell phone policy during instructional time. We believe that phones provide a disruption to learning and engaging socially in the education process of our students. Students are not allowed to use their cell phones during school hours except for before the first bell and during the student's lunch break. Under no circumstances should students take a picture or video of another student using their cell phone without permission. This is a privacy violation.

We ask that students keep their phones in their backpacks and turned off during instructional time during the day. Instructional time includes but is not limited to, times when students are scheduled to be in academic classes, physical education or athletics classes, assemblies, elective classes, and transition times between classes. Students with medical documentation are allowed to use their phones for medical communication.

The first time a student is caught using their phone the teacher will ask them to put it away. If the student gets the phone out again the teacher will take the phone for the class period. The second time the teacher has to take the phone the phone will be turned into the office and the student will pick up the phone at the end of the day. After the phone has been sent to the office two times, on the third time the parents must come pick up the phone from the school. If the student’s phone gets sent to the office a fourth time the student will be assigned to one day of Saturday School. We also ask that parents support this policy by not contacting their child via cell phone during school hours, but instead call our office phone line and the message will be delivered to their child in a timely manner.

To protect the security of statewide assessments, no electronic device, as defined in this policy, shall be accessible by a student at any time during assessment administration unless specifically permitted by a student's individualized education program (IEP) or individual health plan; this means that when a student is taking an AESAA assessment, the student shall not have his/her electronic device in his/her possession. Any student violating this provision shall be subject to this policy's disciplinary provisions.

The prohibition in this policy does not extend to the electronic device the District provides the student for the student’s use during assessment administration to the extent the student is using the District provided device to complete the assessment.

As used in this policy, “electronic devices” means any electronic device that can be used to transmit or capture images, sound, or data, which includes, without limitation, a:

1. Cellular telephone;
2. Paging device;
3. Beeper;
4. Mobile telephone that offers advanced computing and internet accessibility;
5. Digital media player;
6. Portable game console;
7. Tablet, notebook, or laptop computer;
8. Digital camera; and
9. Digital video or audio recorder.

Misuse of electronic devices includes, but is not limited to:

1. Using electronic devices during class time in any manner other than specifically permitted by the classroom instructor;
2. Permitting any audible sound to come from the device when not being used for reason #1 above;
3. Engaging in academic dishonesty, including cheating, intentionally plagiarizing, wrongfully giving or receiving help during an academic examination, or wrongfully obtaining test copies or scores;
4. Using the device to record audio or video or to take photographs in areas where a general expectation of personal privacy exists, including but not limited to locker rooms and bathrooms;
5. Creating, sending, sharing, viewing, receiving, or possessing an indecent visual depiction of oneself or another person.

Use of an electronic device is permitted to the extent it is approved in a student’s IEP or it is needed in an emergency that threatens the safety of students, staff, or other individuals. Also, all students are permitted to use electronic devices on the school campus before, during the students lunch period, and after normal school hours. The use of such devices at school sponsored functions outside the regular school day is permitted to the extent and within the limitations allowed by the event or activity the student is attending.

A parent shall obtain approval from the student’s building principal before operating a student-tracking safety device at school or at a school-sponsored event if the device has recording or listen-in capability. The District requires the device’s recording and listen-in technology to be disabled while the device is on the campus or at the school-sponsored event because of student privacy concerns. The District prohibits unauthorized audio or visual recordings or transmission of audio or images of other students. The student’s parent shall agree in writing to the requirement for the device’s recording and listening-in technology to be disabled and that the District may prohibit future use of the device on campus or at a school-sponsored activity if it is determined that the device’s recording or listening-in capabilities were used in violation of this policy before the student safety tracking device may be on campus or at a school-sponsored event.

The student and/or the student’s parents or guardians expressly assume any risk associated with students owning or possessing electronic devices. Students misusing electronic devices may have them confiscated according to this policy. Students have no right of privacy as to the content contained on any electronic devices that have been confiscated. A search of a confiscated device shall meet the reasonable individualized suspicion requirements of Policy 4.32—SEARCH, SEIZURE, AND INTERROGATIONS.

Students who use school issued cell phones and/or computers for non-school purposes, except as permitted by the district’s Internet/computer use policy, shall be subject to discipline, up to and including suspension or expulsion. Students are forbidden from using school issued cell phones while driving any vehicle at any time. Violation may result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.

No student shall use any wireless communication device for the purposes of browsing the internet; composing or reading emails and text messages; or making or answering phone calls while driving a motor vehicle that is in motion and on school property. Violation may result in disciplinary action up to and including suspension.