The Waterville Board of Education approved a new mobile device policy (Policy 5304) for all students at its Aug. 27 meeting.
The district’s mission is built on educating the whole-child for personalized success with the partnership of students, staff, families and the community. Becoming a mobile device-free environment during the school day helps to achieve that mission.
Mobile devices are cell phones, smart watches, wireless headphones/earbuds or other mobile communication devices.
Students in grades PreK-5 must have mobile devices turned off and stored in the student’s locker during the regular school day.
Students in grades 6-12 must have mobile devices turned off and stored in a district-provided storage device during the regular school day. The district-provided storage device will be a Yondr pouch; however, while the pouches have been ordered, we anticipate that they will not arrive in time for the first week of school. The plan is to have the pouches available the week of Sept. 9. Until the pouches arrive and are distributed, students in grades 6-12 will be required to keep their phones turned off in their locker during the school day or at home.
As part of implementation, there will be presentations for staff, assemblies for students, and a meeting for parents and guardians.
- Staff will be trained during the Superintendent’s Conference Day on Tuesday, Sept. 3.
- A meeting for Gr. 6 parents and guardians is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 3 in the MPS cafeteria.
- A meeting for Gr. 7-12 parents and guardians is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 3 in the Waterville Jr./Sr. High School auditorium.
- Student assemblies will be held during the first week of school.
Once the pouches arrive and full implementation begins, students in grades 6-12 will be required to turn off all personal mobile devices and place them in a locked Yondr pouch at the beginning of a school day as they enter the building.
The pouch stays secure with a magnetized locking device and students may remain in possession of their locked pouches. Many students will find that it is more desirable to place the pouched devices in their lockers.
As students leave at the end of the school day, they will use a special unlocking mechanism located at multiple entry and exit points in the building to retrieve their phone from the pouch.
More information about how the Yondr pouch works can be found here: https://www.overyondr.com/phone-locking-pouch
Each Waterville student in grades 6-12 will be assigned a Yondr pouch; however, there may be situations where there are students with a medical condition that requires the use of a mobile device. Parents of such students should contact their student’s primary care provider for an exemption form that will require approval from the building principal and the Waterville Central School District’s Medical Director. This will allow those students to have a pouch that secures only with Velcro, rather than a magnetic lock, to allow for instant access to their mobile device. (For example, if a student needs a phone to monitor blood sugar.)
“The Waterville Teachers Association is excited to be working with the Board of Education and community to create a distraction free environment for our students.,” said Jenn Dodge, Vice President of the Waterville Teachers Association.
“After researching Yondr pouches, working with our teachers and hosting the community forum, we believe putting this policy into practice will ensure our students and staff achieve greater success in the classroom. We are confident the use of Yondr pouches will increase engagement between peers and improve overall student wellness,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jennifer Spring.
Penalties for misusing a mobile device under the policy will result in the following penalties:
1st Offense: The student’s mobile device will be confiscated and given to the school administrator to be returned to the student at the conclusion of the school day. In addition, the student will serve one lunch detention. The principal or their designee will meet with the student to review the Acceptable Use Policy for Mobile Devices and parent/guardian contact will be made.
2nd Offense: The student’s mobile device will be confiscated and given to the school administrator. The student and parent (guardian) will be required to attend a meeting with the school principal or their designee at the conclusion of the school day. At this meeting, the mobile device will be returned and the Acceptable Use Policy for Mobile Devices will be reviewed. In addition, the student will be required to attend one, two-hour after school detention and turn their mobile device into the office each morning for a period of 30 days.
3rd Offense: The student’s mobile device will be confiscated and given to the school administrator. The student and parent (guardian) will be required to attend a meeting with the school principal or their designee at the conclusion of the school day. At this meeting, the mobile device will be returned and the Acceptable Use Policy for Mobile Devices will be reviewed. In addition, the student will be required to attend two, two-hour after school detention sessions and turn their mobile device into the office each morning for the remainder of the school year.
Additional consequences may be imposed as defined by the district’s code of conduct: (Policy 1005).
More information about the Yondr program can be found here: https://www.overyondr.com/faq
A frequently asked questions page on the Waterville district website is available here: https://www.watervillecsd.org/yondr-waterville-frequently-asked-questions-faq/
If families have not watched the district’s community forum on cell phones in our schools, the video is available on the district’s YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IsAts7TJWA
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jennifer Spring at jspring@watervillecsd.org or your student’s building principal.