OXFORD – A policy that already limits the use of electronic devices such as cell phones in area schools was amended Monday to include portable music players.
The SAD 17 Board of Directors voted unanimously to support the amendment to the Student Use of Telecommunication Devices policy. Unpermitted use of any “electrical media player or receiver,” such as CD or Mp3 players, is now restricted, as well as the use of cell phones, personal digital assistants and other electrical devices.
According to Superintendent Mark Eastman, the change was prompted by two incidents earlier this year when a student on school grounds ignored administrators while listening to music through a hand-held player.
At a March 22 meeting of the district policy committee, banning electronic devices entirely was discussed, but was not formed into a recommendation.
Joseph Moore, principal of Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, then said he had asked his staff whether they approved of an outright ban on all media devices. Eighty percent of his staff would support such a measure, he said.
For now, the district policy states that electronic devices may not be used “in any manner that disrupts the educational environment or violates the privacy rights of others, including using the devices to take photographs, cheat, signal others, or otherwise violate student conduct rules.”
The Board of Directors also on Monday approved changes to the student dress policy. The incidents involving the music player also involved a student wearing a bandanna over the student’s face, Eastman said.
Under the amended dress policy, students are prohibited from covering their faces on school grounds, except for certain specific reasons, such as medical need or religious reasons.
Eastman has said the new policies will be implemented in the 2005-2006 school year.
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