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Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) Board members during their July 25 meeting approved an updated high school handbook that included a new policy regarding cell phones.
The topic was brought up earlier this year by school board member Brad Carson and the school board discussed the matter at multiple school board meetings. Middle and High School Principal Cory Strasser and the school district’s policy committee, which includes Katie Wiese, Chrissy DeBates and Amy Nelson, reviewed cell phone policies from other school districts to develop the updated language.
According to the updated policy, “cell phones and other personal communication and electronic devices will be allowed before school, during lunch, after school, and between classes. Students are not allowed to use these devices during the time that class is in session.”
The policy indicates that students are expected to put their cell phones on silent and place them in a designated location within the classroom that has been determined by the teacher. Students may still use such devices for “teacher approved educational purposes.”
If a student is found to have devices including cell phones, smart phones, tablets, headphones or ear buds during a quiz or test, it will be considered cheating. If a teacher determines that a student has violated the policy, the teacher will collect the device and bring it to the office.
For a first violation of the policy, a student will lose their phone until the end of the school day and a parent will be contacted. For a second offense, the phone will be held in the office during the school day and a parent or guardian must pick it up. For a third offense, the student will lose their phone during the school day for three days and there will be a meeting with a parent or guardian.
“It looks good to me,” Carson said of the policy.
Strasser said he intended to present the information to students during a ninth grade orientation and a twelfth grade retreat before the school year begins, and during the first couple days of school. He said he also planned to communicate the information to parents and staff.
“As you can see the whole point is to reduce distraction,” Strasser said. “I think if we have enough communication with kids about how we stay engaged and less distracted for the time period that we’re in the classroom, I think most will understand.”
The updated handbook also includes added language that defines cyberbullying as “photos or videos taken without prior consent of person in photo/video and/or published photos/videos on a social media site. It may include indecent exposure, and words or actions that negatively affects an individual or group based on their racial, cultural or religious background, their sex, or any disabilities they may have.”
Taking, posting or disseminating pictures or videos of students and staff for non-educational purposes was already considered misuse of electronic devices in the previous cell phone policy. School board members had previously indicated during discussions about cell phones, however, that they had heard of photos being taken of students and staff at the school and shared on social media.
In other business:
•School board members approved a quote of $12,676 from American Fence Company for an outfield fence for one of the ballfields that is being built north of the new elementary school. The six-foot high fence will be installed on the ball field that borders the road leading to the school.
•Board members approved increasing substitute teacher pay from $130 a day to $160 a day for days one to five in a calendar month, $180 a day for days six to 10 in a calendar month, and $200 a day for 11 or more days in a calendar month. Superintendent Kevin Enerson said the pay hadn’t been increased for a few years and that the increase was an effort to attract and retain substitute teachers.
•Enerson received a positive evaluation. School Board Chair Jeff Baatz said he and Enerson met Wednesday, July 20 and reviewed evaluation forms completed by the school board members. He called it a “good evaluation” and said the evaluations were consistent across the board. Enerson thanked the board for the feedback.