While in some instances the possession and use of electronic equipment or devices by a student at school may be appropriate, often particularly with young students, the possession and use of such equipment or devices, at school can have the effect of distracting, disrupting and/or intimidating others and leading to opportunities for academic dishonesty and other disruptions of the educational process.

Students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade shall not use or possess any electronic equipment or devices on school property or at any school-sponsored activity without the permission of the principal, the classroom teacher and/or other District employee staff. Examples of prohibited devices among K-8 students include, but are not limited to cameras (photographic and/or video), laptops, personal digital assistants (PDAs), lasers, laser pens or pointers, radios, "boom-boxes", headphones, portable CD/MP3 players, portable TV's, electronic games/toys, pagers/beepers, other paging devices, and/or devices designed to capture the school or other persons personal information.

The Board of Education recognizes the value of teaching students in an age-appropriate manner the importance of appropriate uses of technology in the academic setting. Therefore, high school students may use and possess electronic devices if such use and possession is appropriate and/or for instructional purposes. In no case may students use electronic devices to knowingly/unknowingly violate the Student Code of Conduct in any way. The high school teaching staff will explicitly state his/her electronic device policy verbally and in written form. The disregard of a reasonable request by the teacher may result in an office referral and appropriate school consequence including but not limited to confiscation of the device from the student by school personnel. Examples of acceptable electronic devices for high school students include but are not limited to: MP3 players; iPods; Digital Cameras; Laptops; cell phones, Blackberries, and iPhones.

Students are personally and solely responsible for the care and security of any electronic equipment or devices they bring to school. The Board assumes no responsibility for theft, loss, damage, or vandalism to electronic equipment and devices brought onto its property, or the unauthorized use of such devices.

Students are prohibited from using electronic equipment or devices in a manner that may be physically harmful to another person (e.g. shining a laser in the eyes of another student). Further, at no time may any camera or other electronic equipment/device be utilized by a student in a way that might reasonably create in the mind of another person an impression of being threatened, humiliated, harassed, embarrassed, or intimidated. See Policy 5517.01 - Bullying and Other Forms of Aggressive Behavior.

Students are prohibited from using cameras and other electronic equipment/devices to capture or record test, information or any other information in a manner constituting fraud, theft, or academic dishonesty. Similarly, students are prohibited from using cameras and other electronic equipment and devices to capture or record the words (i.e. audio) and/or images (i.e. pictures/video) of any student, staff member or other person in the school or while attending a school-related activity, without express prior notice and explicit consent for the capture and/or recording of such words or images. Using a camera or other electronic equipment/devices to capture or record audio and/or pictures/video of an individual without his/her consent is considered an invasion of privacy and is not permitted, unless authorized by the building principal. Cameras and electronic equipment/devices are expressly banned from and may not be possessed, activated, or utilized at any time in any school situation where a reasonable expectation of personal privacy exists. These locations and circumstances include but are not limited to locker rooms, shower facilities, restrooms, classrooms, and any other areas where students or others may change clothes or be in any stage or degree of disrobing or changing clothes. The building principal has authority to make determinations as to other specific locations and situations where possession of a camera or other electronic equipment/device is absolutely prohibited.

Adopted 9/28/09
Revised 7/25/11