LCS Agenda Review Addresses Cell Phones, Discipline Matrix

On July 8 ^th , the Leon County School Board held an agenda review/workshop meeting and discussed the Board’s cell phone policy and the Discipline Matrix Guide.

The Board reviewed their Wireless Communication Devices Policy and discussed whether they would want to amend the policy and further restrict high school students from having their phone out during the school day. As of now, the current policy language (that was approved by the Board just this past January) follows state laws which prohibit students from having their cell phones out during instructional time unless they are directed to do so for educational purposes by a teacher.

Superintendent Rocky Hanna brought up potentially amending the policy so that similar to elementary and middle school students, high schoolers would not be permitted to have their phone out while at school.

Chair Rosanne Wood noted that she doesn’t feel comfortable amending the policy until the Board gathers information from parents, teachers and principals. The Board eventually decided to create a focus group to discuss the policy and have the superintendent bring back administrative procedures for enforcing their current policy before school starts.

During the meeting, the Board also reviewed their Discipline Matrix Guide, which is a tool for administrators to respond appropriately when students have committed behavioral infractions. The guide explains what disciplinary actions should be taken based on what the student has done, and is broken up into four main areas, starting with severe consequences which covers offences such as aggravated battery and arson, and ends with informal consequences which covers offences such as inappropriate language and dress code violations.