Park Hill is making a change in policy concerning cell phones and other personal electronic devices at the middle school level.
“We wanted you to be aware of a change to our Personal Electronic Devices procedures at the middle school level this school year in Park Hill School District. After careful consideration and discussions with our middle school principals, staff and community, we have decided that during the school day, personal devices, including cell phones, must be kept in a school-issued locker and turned off or set to silent mode to prevent disruptions,” the school district announced last week.
“We value our time at school along with our students’ social and emotional well-being and have been working towards this change for the past few months.”
Here is the updated language that will be included in the 2024-2025 Parent/Student Handbook for all middle school students:
“Personal electronic devices are not permitted to be used during the school day. Students must place their personal electronic devices in a school-issued locker. Such devices must be turned off or placed on silent mode to avoid disrupting the learning environment. Staff will not require students to use a personal electronic device for any purpose.”
If a student violates this rule regarding device use, they may face disciplinary actions, which could include losing the privilege to bring the device to school.
The school district goes on to say: “In such cases, parents/guardians might need to pick up the device from the school office. If you need to contact your child during the school day, please reach out to the school’s front office. We’ll ensure your message gets delivered. Similarly, if a student needs to contact a parent, they can do so from the front office or the counseling center. We certainly want to maintain access to communication for you and your student, and we will ensure to help relay messages whenever needed.”
In a message to the community, Park Hill wrote: “While we know that this change may be a challenge for some of our students, we are confident that this change is being made thoughtfully and with the best interest of our students and staff in mind. Please visit with your child about this change, and certainly reach out to us if you have questions. We will help communicate this with our students as the school year starts as well.”
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