A couple of important documents for you to be aware of are the new POWER Zone Cell Phone Policy and our updated POWER Zone Community Code of Conduct. Both of these are critical in creating and maintaining safe, supportive, collaborative learning environments that are healthy for staff, students, and all stakeholders. Please carefully review these documents and dialogue with your children and family members regarding these important POWER Zone expectations. My commitment to you is that you will be treated with respect and care when you visit our campuses, and we ask that our staff be treated with respect and care too.

ALLIES - IVES - OES - RVES - SMS - VRHS

District 49 will implement cell phone protocols across all schools. These protocols were created with input from a variety of stakeholders and exist to maximize instructional time and enhance student learning opportunities by removing the distraction and disruption that cell phones bring to the learning environment.

The POWER Zone prioritizes a safe, supportive, collaborative culture. Below outlines our POWER Zone cell phone policy which will be implemented and enforced in 2024 and beyond:

• Wherever the label “cell phone” is used in this policy, this also means and includes smartwatches, headphones/earpods, and any other devices/tools that assist or enable communication.

• Elementary: Cell phones may not be in use (heard or seen) at all during the school day for elementary school students. At this level, we define “instructional time” as the entire school day.

• Middle School: Cell phones may not be in use (heard or seen) during the school day for middle school students. At this level, we define “instructional time” as the entire school day. Middle school teachers may seek pre-approval from their administration for very occasional student device use connected directly to an academic project.

• High School: Cell phones may not be in use (heard or seen) during class time at the high school level. At this level, we define “instructional time” as scheduled class periods. If cell phones become an ongoing contributor to unsafe behaviors, excessive tardies, etc. we reserve the right to redefine high school “instructional time” as the entire school day. Teachers have discretion to allow phone use for the last 5 minutes ONLY of each class period and only for the academic purpose of students adding homework assignments to their phone calendar/notes. High school students may utilize cell phones during passing periods/lunch, and we encourage students to make smart choices for themselves so that they are on time to class and meeting all other school expectations. High school teachers may seek pre-approval from their administration for very occasional student device use connected directly to an academic project.

• This policy will be consistently enforced by staff. If a student’s phone is seen or heard during non-phone times, expect consequences. Consequences will be determined, and communicated, by each school and may include a warning, confiscation of device, detention, and/or suspension. Repeated instances of not following the expectations will be treated as defiance and involve increased school consequences. In addition, schools and teachers may choose to proactively collect phones at the start of each class period or the instructional day to remove the temptation of use.

• Limited exceptions may be made for medical or special learning plan needs.

• Phones and other communication devices are not required for school, and parents may consider keeping phones at home. If parents and/or students choose to bring phones and other devices to school, understand that the school/zone/district is under no circumstances responsible for damage or theft of these devices. We will not pay for broken, lost, or stolen personal devices or belongings of any kind.

Thank you for your support and cooperation in creating and maintaining ideal environments for learning in POWER Zone schools. We appreciate you!

All of our POWER Zone staff look forward to an eventful and fruitful school year ahead! If you need anything, your school leaders and staff are eager to help. If I can help you with anything, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Sincerely,

Theresa Ritz