Tuesday, Sept. 19. 2007 • Parents, students protest school district’s cell phone policy

Publisher’s note: This story originally appeared in the Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2007, edition of the Lassen County Times.

Lassen Union High School District has amended its cell phone rule after hearing complaints from parents and students regarding when students are allowed to use their phones during school hours.

During a LUHSD board meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 11, parents and students filled the Lassen High School library to express their concern and a petition was presented to the board from two students.

Previously, students were not allowed to use their phones during class time, lunchtime or passing periods.

The petition has approximately 800 student signatures and 37 adult signatures asking for cell phones to be used during all times, except during class. According to Superintendent Dan Lewis, the management team met on Wednesday, Sept. 12 to discuss the meeting and the petition.

In an e-mail, Lewis said, “The consensus of the team was to amend our practice and give the kids a chance to show how responsible they can be when using technology.”

Lewis said the students were made aware of these changes.

• Cell phones may be used on campus until the passing bell rings at 8:07 a.m.
• Phones may be used on campus at lunch until the passing bell rings signaling its time to go to class.
• Students may use their cell phones after the dismissal bell rings at 3 p.m.
• Phones may not be used during class time or between passing periods.

If a student needs to make a phone call, with teacher permission, they will go to the office to do so.

Students can receive phone messages left by a parent or guardian in the front office. The P.A. system will be used to notify students they have messages.

During the board meeting, the board heard comments from parents and students for 20 minutes, each person had three minutes to speak.

Some parents and students agreed cell phones should not be used during class time, but thought having a cell phone was a safety issue and a way for parents and students to get a hold of each other if needed.

In light of the 1999 shootings at Columbine High School and the spring shootings at Virginia Tech, parent Gary Moffett, said cell phones are an invaluable insurance policy for parents who send their child to a school that cannot guarantee their safety.

He said, “I think it’s important for me to be able to get a hold of my child at any time.”

LHS parent Judy Wolf said, “I think the high school is overstepping its bounds. I think that you’re taking away some rights the parents have.”

Reference materials including copies of the district policy regarding communication devices in the classroom, education code section 51512 and Diamond View School’s cell phone policy was provided for those in attendance, although some parents felt the provided information was misleading.

The education code prohibits the use of electronic listening and recording devices in an elementary and secondary school unless the teacher and principal give prior consent.

The district policy follows the education code guidelines and also prohibits the use of devices capable of capturing, transmitting or storing images or recording and storing audio in restrooms, dressing rooms or other areas where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy.

The board adopted the policy in September 2006.

In addition, the policy also states the devices shall be turned off during class time and at any other time directed by a district employee, except as specifically directed, must be set to a mode where others cannot hear it and not disrupt the educational program or school activity.

Wolf pointed out the policy and education code say the devices are not to be used during class time and does not state anything regarding phones being on campus or used during lunchtime or passing periods.

She said the district was misquoting the education code by saying phones were not allowed at the school and the handouts were inaccurate.

Rumors were also going around cell phones were being confiscated in the crosswalk by the high school on Main Street and students were not allowed to use their cell phones if they were on campus until 5 p.m.

Lewis said the rumors were untrue and the administration had no indication as to where the 5 p.m. rule came from.

He said the administration had not been told students were not allowed to use cell phones at 5 p.m.

“We’re talking school time only,” Lewis said.

According to Lewis, the management team decided cell phones should not be used during passing periods due to the students standing outside the classroom talking on the phone when the bell is ringing or had already rung, entering the classroom with the cell phone on their ears and text messaging when tests are taking place.

Lewis said the district has the authority to set usage rules and has done that.