Cell phone policy summary for many schools across the Ozarks

As the new school year rolls around, OzarksFirst is checking with districts across the Ozarks about how they plan on implementing the new cell phone ban for the school day, sparked statewide from Senate Bill 68.

This round up is simply a summary, and parents are encouraged to visit the student’s district’s code of conduct for more specifics.

Springfield Public Schools

SPS is following the state law by banning all personal electronic communication devices, including cell phones, personal tablets, smart watches, headphones, or a device capable of initiating, receiving, storing or viewing information or communications.

The district says students can wear GARMIN fitness watches when in online physical education classes.

Exceptions include students for specific educational or health needs or have a 504 plan.

Their policy applies to all students in the district.

Parents are encouraged to contact the schools to reach out to their children, or students are still able to communicate with family over school issued tablets or chromebooks.

Violations of the policy include punishments ranging from conferences to multiple days of out-of-school suspensions.

Ozark Schools

Ozark is also banning cell phones, aligned with SB68, asking them to be ‘out of sight’.

Smartwatches are allowed but will be treated like a phone if a student uses them to text, call or stream.

Violations can result in a device being held at the office until the end of day, with other punishments including lunch detentions, in-school suspensions, up to an out-of-school suspension.

Ozark Schools also encourage parents to reach out to schools to contact their children.

Those policies above pertain to high school students.

For Jr. High students, the policies are primarily the same, but the punishments are lighter at first, but the range is the same.

Rogersville Schools

Rogersville Schools are also following the new state law, calling for students to have devices turned off and away.

They allow exemptions for medical or educational needs.

The district says a ‘personal device’ is a cell phone, tablet, gaming device, headphones, smart watches.

Students who violate the policy will be asked to turn in their device to the office. Additional violations will ‘be assigned as outlined in the student handbook’.

Refusing to turn over the device will result in more actions.

Republic Schools

Republic Schools say electronic devices (phones, personal tablets, smartwatches, personal laptops, gaming devices, A.I. glasses, earbuds) are not allowed during class, during breaks, recess, lunch, between classes or during study halls or assemblies.

Exceptions are only allowed before and after school, in an emergency, defined as ‘a serious, expected and dangerous situation that requires immediate action’, or if it’s required as part of a student’s IEP or 504 plan.

Waynesville Schools

Information sent to OzarksFirst from the Waynesville School District is outlined below for High School students.

Nuisance Items/Electronic Devices/Cameras – The use of items such as, but not limited to, games, sound making devices, cameras, cell phones, smart watches, wireless earbuds/headphones, and tablets. Use of personal electronic communication is prohibited during the school day. These items may NOT be used, displayed or heard during the school day either inside or outside the classroom, unless the teacher has given approval for educational purposes. All personal electronic communication devices must be stored for the entire school day.

Cameras, Use of (see Board policy KKB) –Students are prohibited from using camera phones or other electronic devices to take visual or audio recordings or images, whether in digital or other form, during any class or instructional period during the school day, unless the use is part of the instructional program, required by district-sponsored class or activity, or otherwise permitted by the building principal. Students are prohibited from using camera phones/photographic devices in a facility or location at which students or others have a reasonable expectation of privacy and in staff offices, staff areas or records storage areas.

Additional distractive nuisance items such as, but not limited to, sound making devices, skate boards, skate shoes and any other item that detracts from the educational process are prohibited. Personal electronic devices are carried at the student's risk. The school assumes no responsibility for their loss or theft, nor will effort be made to search for or retrieve them. Nuisance items may not be picked up until after 2:35 p.m. on the day the item was confiscated. Lack of cooperation by student will result in additional consequences.

First Offense: Items confiscated by staff, warning and parent/guardian contact; student will claim item after 2:35 p.m.

Second Offense: Items confiscated by staff, one detention, parents/guardians must claim items after 2:35 p.m.

Third Offense: Items confiscated by staff, one Saturday school, parent/guardian must claim item after 2:35 p.m.

Fourth and Subsequent Offense: Item will be confiscated by staff, in-school suspension, up to 10 days out-of-school suspension, short‑term alternative suspension program and/or recommendation to superintendent for up to 180 days out-of-school suspension and/or recommendation to board of education for expulsion. Parent/guardian must claim item after 2:35 p.m.

Nixa Schools

Information on Nixa Schools’ website from the school’s High School Student/Family Handbook is outlined below

“In an effort to maintain a positive learning environment that is safe and free from distractions, personal electronic devices (cell phones, smart watches, AirPods/earbuds, headphones, Bluetooth speakers, MP3 players, portable video games, etc.) may not be displayed or used from the beginning of the school day until the end of the school day, including, but not limited to, instructional time, meal times, breaks, time between classes, and during study halls. At the start of the school day students will silence or power off their cell phones and other electronic personal communication devices and place them in a location where they will not be seen. Cell phones may be used before school, after school, and during school when authorized by the teacher for educational purposes. This policy will be in effect for all students, except as permitted by RSMo 162.207.3(3). (For a complete definition of “Personal Electronic Device” and “Use,” refer to Board Policy JFCK and RSMo 162.207.) 

Students are not allowed to use their cell phones and other electronic personal communication devices at any point during the school day. There will be additional disciplinary consequences for students who use their cell phones at any time during the school day to:

• Take Pictures
• Record Videos
• Record Audio

Students are not allowed to use their cell phones and other electronic personal communication devices at any point during the school day. There will be additional disciplinary consequences for students who use Cell Phones in the following forbidden locations:

• Locker Rooms
• Restrooms
• Other District Schools (i.e., during A+ tutoring, internships, child development activities, etc.)

Potential consequences for personal electronic device violations include but are not limited to

● First Offense: principal/student conference, confiscation, detention, or in-school suspension.

● Subsequent Offense: confiscation, detention, in-school suspension, 1-180 days out-of-school suspension, or expulsion.”

Fair Grove

Fair Grove uses Yondr pouches.

Students put their devices in ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode before placing in the pouch at the beginning of school, and at the end of the day are able to take their phones out.

The district says students who need to use their device for medical reasons are given a pouch with Velcro.

Violations of the policy or damage to the pouch range from 2 days of in-school suspension up to in-school suspension, 1-180 days of out-of-school suspension and the student can no longer bring any device to school.

OzarksFirst reached out to school districts in Branson, Reeds Spring, Sparta, Dallas County, Bolivar, Willard, Ash Grove, Ava and Walnut Grove, but did not hear back.