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LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) — Cellphones may find their way on to Lafayette high school students' back-to-school lists.
The Advocate reports (http://bit.ly/1wpoHmV ) the Lafayette Parish School Board will consider a revision to its policy that would allow the phones to be used for instructional purposes and by students during lunch break.
The district's current policy bans cellphones on all school campuses, a policy that's been in effect for the past few years. The proposed change would allow high school students to have cellphones on campus and to use them before and after school and during lunch.
The proposal also would allow the phones to be used in the classroom as part of instruction — if the teacher allows it. The proposed revision also would allow middle school students to bring a cellphone to campus but would not allow them to use the phones when school is in session. The proposed policy would continue the ban on student cellphones on elementary campuses.
The proposed revision would not impact the consequences students face if they violate the policy and use the phones without a teacher's permission. Students who disobey the policy will still have their cellphones confiscated for five days for the first offense, 30 days for the second and for the school year on a third offense.
The policy revision includes new language that says school staff will not be responsible for confiscated, lost, damaged or stolen cellphones.
The policy revision is on the board's agenda for its Wednesday meeting as a discussion item, and a vote could be taken on the change as soon as the board's Aug. 6 meeting. Students return to school on Aug. 12.
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Information from: The Advocate, http://theadvocate.com
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