The District provides telephones to employees because communication is essential for the performance of their duties, especially in times of emergency or when addressing safety issues. In addition, the district provides a voice mail system which permits employees to receive and retrieve messages from locations outside of their offices.
The landline telephones provided by the district to employees are to be used primarily for school business. Employees may use land line telephones for personal business, provided such personal use is limited in frequency and duration and does not interfere with the performance of an employee’s job. Landline telephones are provided at district expense. Employees are not charged for local calls but are charged for all personal long distance toll calls.
The use of cell phones and other communication devices may be appropriate to provide for the effective and efficient operation of the school district and to help ensure safety and security of people and property while on school district property or engaged in school‑sponsored activities.
The Board authorizes the purchase and employee use of cell phones as deemed appropriate by the superintendent. School district‑owned cell phones shall be used for authorized school district business purposes, consistent with the school district’s mission and goals.
Use of cell phones in violation of board policies, administrative regulations, and/or state/federal laws will result in discipline, up to and including dismissal, and referral to law enforcement officials, as appropriate.
Employees may possess and use cell phones during the school day as outlined in this policy and as provided in the administrative regulation developed by the superintendent. Employees should not use cell phones for personal business while on-duty, including staff development times, parent-teacher conferences, etc., except in the case of an emergency or during prep time or break/lunch times. Employees, except for bus drivers, see below, are prohibited from using cell phones while driving except in the case of an emergency and any such use must comply with applicable state and federal law and district policies and regulations.
Cell phones are not to be used for conversations involving confidential student or employee information. [School district-provided cell phones devices are not to be loaned to others.]
School bus drivers are prohibited from using any communication device while operating the bus except in the case of an emergency, or to call for assistance, after the vehicle has been stopped. Any such use must comply with applicable state and federal law and district policies and regulations.
The Superintendent or his/her designee is authorized to review the use of the district cellular account and to revoke the privilege of using the district cellular account if it is determined that the cellular telephone is being used primarily for personal business or is being used in any other manner which is contrary to district policy.
Adopted:
February 8, 2010
Date of Review:
October 11, 2021
