Dear Greenville Community,
Before school starts next week, I wanted to provide some more clarification on the procedure surrounding the new cell phone policy. In my last message, I provided a form where anyone could submit a question to be answered. We received 12 questions, all of which are answered below.
Details
Each student will receive a lockable pouch to store their personal internet-connected devices. When they arrive at school, students should power off or put their devices on airplane mode. Then, they should store their devices in their lockable pouches. When walking into school, staff members will be stationed at the entrances to ensure pouches are locked. Pouches can be kept in Chromebook bags, backpacks, or lockers.
Distribution
Students will receive their pouches on the first day of school during their first period class. Other arrangements will be made for students who have late arrival or start their days off campus.
Submitted Questions
As teachers, do we lock the student pouches at the start of 1st period and unlock them at the end of 9th period?
No, teachers don’t have to lock or unlock pouches. Students can lock the pouches on their own when entering the building and can unlock them using the unlocking stations in the high school main entrance, middle school main entrance, the exit at the end of the 6th grade hallway, and at the four corners on the way to parent pick up or the locker rooms.
How will we be able to reach our students in the event of an emergency? There have been several lockdowns where my child was able to communicate that they were safe and it was nothing serious moving forward how will communication improve during these times without hour gaps between the lockdown and the lifts?
Our Communications Specialist will contact parents immediately in the event of a lockdown. In keeping with current practices, regular updates will be shared (whether new information is available or not), and these will be available publicly on our website. Over the summer, we worked to enhance our communication practices. This means our Communications Specialist, who is often around campus, no longer needs to return to a computer at the District Office to notify families of an emergency. She can now send even more timely notifications to families from anywhere on campus using a school-issued device.
My daughter is going into 8th grade. She has a 504 Plan does this affect her?
Yes, this policy affects all students. For questions about your student's individual 504 Plan, please contact the PPS Office at 518-966-5070 x321.
Do students in the MS/HS have to use the pouches, or can they remain turned off in their lockers? I'm sure this has already been considered, but I know it will be the first question I get from my own child and students.
Students must use the provided pouches or leave their devices at home. If they are seen with a device during school hours, they will face the consequences listed in the Code of Conduct.
I use my cell phone for daily photos and daily Seesaw parent communication. Can I still do that in my classroom?
We understand the elementary school faculty often utilizes cell phones for SeeSaw communications. This will be addressed on the Superintendent’s Conference Day by the building principal.
My student has severe ADHD and utilizes music as a background noise to help him when learning. How would someone go about adding a cellular device to an IEP.
If a student utilizes music as background noise as a tool to assist with learning due to a diagnosed medical condition, they may use wired headphones and play music from their Chromebook when necessary. This accommodation will need to be written into their Individualized Education Program (IEP), 504 plan, or a health care plan on file with the school. In every case, the school will first review the request and provide reasonable alternatives (like utilizing a Chromebook instead of a PICD).
Will students be allowed smart watches? If students use pouches, so should teachers. I’ve experienced so many cases of teachers on their phones constantly throughout the school day.
No, smart watches are not permitted. Smart watches are listed as a PICD in the Board’s policy and must be powered off/put on airplane mode and stored in a pouch when at school. This policy specifically regulates student PICD use. However, faculty and staff should continue to model positive behavior and keep their personal electronic devices stored away during instructional time and/or while supervising students. Walkie-talkies, Google Chat, and email are all available to communicate with other staff members.
If a student wants to listen to music during recess or lunch, what are their options? We have a Gen 2 ipod, which does NOT have blue tooth and so it is not "internet connected". Would my child be able to use that? It only uses wired headphones.
Listening to music on a PICD, like an iPod, MP3 player, iPad or tablet is not permitted during the school day, even during lunch. However, students are permitted to use their Chromebooks at lunch and recess. To listen to music, they can use wired headphones connected to their Chromebook.
I thought this was turned down at the BOE meeting cuz y’all don’t pay our bills?
This is a state law and the Board of Education approved a policy to stay in compliance.
Will adults have pouches for their phones too?
Faculty/staff will not have pouches. However, they should continue to model positive behavior and keep their personal electronic devices stored away during instructional time and/or while supervising students. Walkie-talkies, Google Chat, and email are all available to communicate with other staff members.
Well still the state dosnt pay for my phone so where does the right to tell me to get off my phone come from?
As a public school, we are bound by the laws of the state to enforce the rules and regulations as they pertain to the public education setting. In this case, the state has mandated that phones are prohibited from bell to bell and we, as the school district, must enforce that.
So what happens when most of the student body decides that they won’t be putting their phone in a pouch and will be keeping their phones with them and not at home.
The consequences for not following the policy are listed below.
First Time: PICD is surrendered and given to the main office to be held until the end of the school day. Parent/guardian is contacted.
Second Time: PICD is surrendered and given to the main office to be held until the end of the school day. Parent/guardian is contacted. Student has lunch/recess detention.
Third Time: PICD is surrendered and given to the main office to be held until the end of the school day. Parent/guardian is contacted. Student has lunch/recess detention and the parent/guardian/caregiver must pick up the PICD from school.
Additional infractions will result in other consequences including, but not limited to, behavior agreement, conference, reduction of school privileges, and in-school suspension. Failure to surrender a device is considered insubordination and can result in suspension.
I will share another resource next week with more information. I look forward to seeing everyone for the first day of school on Thursday, September 4. If you have any questions, I encourage you to reach out to your building principal.
Michael Bennett
Superintendent of Schools