Board prohibits student cell phone use during the dayby Johnna Behrens The North Bend Central Board of Education spent a large portion of its July 14 meeting deliberating if students should be allowed to use their phones during lunch and between classes. The teachers’ input pointed to not allowing the students to use their phones during the school day. The board deliberated and agreed that they would not allow students to use their phones during the school day. The student handbook will be updated to align with that conclusion. The exception to this rule is if a child has a medical or educational need to use their personal device or in the case of an emergency or perceived threat. The position was reinforced as the members discussed how there needed to be a black-and-white policy to keep it simple so that students did not take advantage of the rules. Therefore, personal mobile devices are not to be used by students from the beginning of the school day until the end bell rings. This ensures that the students are not distracted from the learning environment and also connecting with their peers. Another policy change that affected students was the change on the early graduation policy. Previously students could have no grade below a C to apply for early graduation. The policy now reads that the student not have a grade point average less than 2.0 (78% or C). Discussed at the meeting was the issue of the lawn care at the school grounds. It was decided based on the cost analysis that the maintenance was more economical to continue having staff care for the lawn rather than having an external company care for the school grounds. Read the full story in the print or e-edition. <<Back to the front page |