Elmbrook School District students may now carry cell phones at school, as long as the devices are kept turned off and out of sight during the instructional day.
School Board members Tuesday approved a policy change that reversed a seldom-enforced ban on electronic communication devices.
According to the policy, there is a "legitimate safety purpose" in allowing students to possess phones during the school day, as long as they don't interfere with the learning environment.
Four rules put in place
Under the new policy, phones can be used while students are in transit to and from school, school-sponsored activities or field trips, with permission from the supervising adult.
In addition, the district has laid out four rules about phones: They can't disrupt the educational environment, they can't endanger the health or safety of anyone, they can't invade the rights of other students and they can't involve illegal or unethical conduct.
Students who break the rules could have their device confiscated or lose the privilege to possess a phone in school.
A full version of the policy can be found at elmbrookschools.org. Related rules will be published annually in student handbooks.
Students asked to weigh in
Jeff Snow, a senior at Brookfield East High School, asked the board to consider further loosening the policy to allow students to use their phones during non-class times during the school day.
"People do use their cell phones in class," Snow said. "If you want to lower the cell phone use in class, I think another good suggestion would be to allow it during the passing times, (lunch and study hall)."
Snow's comments came in response to a School Board request for student feedback on the policy. Board member Bob Ziegler cast the lone vote against the policy, saying the board should delay passing the new rules until student input can be considered.
Board members Meg Wartman and Glen Allgaier also voiced support for further consideration of the students' input, but suggested the students speak to their principals about their ideas.
"If we find out from our administrators that they feel the policy needs to be more liberal, I think we can look at that then," Wartman said.
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