After 16 Years, South Windsor Schools' Electronic Devices Policy Gets an Update

The last time the South Windsor school district updated its electronic devices policy was in 1997. The biggest concerns back then were beepers.

Things, to say the least, have changed in the 16 years since that policy was implemented.

The Board of Education on Tuesday had its first read of the updated policy, which, according to Dr. Kate Carter, may not be perfect, but certainly addresses the ever-shifting technological landscape.

“We thought this night would never come,” school board Chairman David Joy quipped.

Carter said that it was starting to become “embarrassing” to have such an outmoded policy on the books.

Unlike the previous policy which, for example, prohibited the possession of beepers on school property, the updated provision recognizes that, in 2013, many children have cell phones, tablets, laptop computers and MP3 players and that such devices have become a way of life.

As such, students would be permitted to possess those privately owned devices during the school day and at school-sponsored events. Students would not, however, be permitted to use those devices “during instructional time, except as specifically permitted by instructional staff.”

In addition, devices may not be used improperly - meaning they cannot be used for, among other things, the following: cyber bullying; accessing, creating or disseminating pornographic or lewd content; and accessing district technology resources.

A student’s privately owned device may also be searched if there are “reasonable grounds for suspecting that the search will turn up evidence that the student has violated or is violating either the law or the rules of the school.”

Violation of the policy would result in disciplinary action, including confiscation of the device, and notification of the parent/guardian.

Carter acknowledged that the policy has its limitations.

“I would not suggest that it is fool-proof,” she said.

But the policy is far better than the one on the books right now and it is one that can be more easily changed with the inevitable advances in technology.

“It’s not perfect, but it is reflective of the reality today,” she said.

Indeed, the policy is far more permissive than the beeper policy. Many parents, for example, actually want their children to have cell phones at school to keep in touch with them.

The policy provides guidelines to parents and students as to what the expectation is at school. What’s more, the policy also provides teachers and administrators with some discretion in terms of what disciplinary action is best. A device that is confiscated, for example, could be returned to the student at the end of the day, Carter said.

Carter said that policy incorporates by reference the student handbooks of the elementary, middle and high schools to reflect age-appropriate guidelines for the possession and use of electronic devices.

No action was taken on the policy, as it was the first reading. The school board is expected to act on the policy at its next meeting in April.