Personal electronic devices such as cellphones/smartphones and smartwatches are required to be placed in district-issued, locked pouches during the school day. Each student will be assigned a phone pouch and will be required to place their cell/smartphone and smartwatches in their district-issued phone pouch at the beginning of each school day. Students will maintain possession of their assigned locked pouch throughout the school day. Phone pouches will be unlocked at the end of the instructional day. The Diagonal Community Schools District-issued phone pouches are district property. Any destruction of district-issued phone pouches will result in discipline and the payment for the replacement of the pouch. The district recognize the need for students to use personal electronic devices for educational purposes. Therefore, the board authorizes the superintendent, superintendent's designee, principal, or principal's designee to authorize the use of a personal cell/smartphone or other personal electronic device for educational purposes. Teachers who incorporate such technology into their classrooms will need to justify the use to their building principal before allowing students to utilize personal electronic devices within the classroom.
Definitions:
District Networks - Include both wired and wireless networks maintained by the district.
Personal Electronic Devices - Include, but are not limited to, electronic communication equipment such as laptops, mobile phones, smartphones, tablet computers, smartwatches, earbuds, AirPods, and video game devices owned by a student or a student's parent/guardian.
Phone Pouches - The district-issued pouches owned by the Diagonal Community Schools. Any destruction of these pouches is considered destruction of district property and will result in discipline, including the replacement cost of the pouch.
Acceptable Use
Student use of any personal electronic devices, such as ceil/smartphones, smart watches? or any other personal electronic device on district property during the instructional school day is prohibited unless authorized by the superintendent, superintendent's designee, principal, or principal's designee for educational purposes. Students who fail to abide by this policy will be subject to discipline as noted below. When approved by the superintendent, superintendent's designee, principal or principal's designee, students will be allowed to unlock their phone pouches in a designated classroom for instructional purposes. However, that teacher will be responsible for ensuring that students lock their phones in their district-issued phone pouches before exiting the classroom. Each building administrator, under the direction of the superintendent or designee, shall determine the appropriate classroom where students may use personal electronic devices and the extent to which such devices will be incorporated into the classroom curriculum. The district will utilize a technology protection measure, such as a filter; on all district networks. Students shall not bypass or attempt to bypass the district's networks through any means. Use of personal electronic devices such as cell/smartphones, smartwatches, or any other personal electronic device will only be for instructional purposes and must not in any way disrupt the educational process in the school district, endanger the health or safety of the student, or any other person in the district, invade the rights of others at school, or involve illegal or prohibited conduct. All use of personal electronic devices such as cell/smartphones, smartwatches during the instructional day is prohibited unless authorized by the superintendent, superintendent's designee, principal, or principal's designee for educational purposes shall be for appropriate educational purposes only, not for personal use, and shall be consistent with the educational objectives of a particular classroom. Students using personal electronic devices must follow the same rules that apply to the use of district-provided technology. The district may examine the student's device to the extent allowed by law. The district administration may involve law enforcement if the district has reasonable suspicion that the device has been used for an illegal purpose or for a purpose that causes harm to others.
Failure to abide by this policy shall subject the student to disciplinary action as outlined below.
District’s Wireless Network
The district does not guarantee that the district's wireless network is completely secure or that the district can protect the privacy of those using the district's wireless network. The district does not guarantee that all areas of the district shall have wireless coverage or that the wireless service level will be consistent from day to day. The district is not responsible for any loss of information that may arise from the use of the district's wireless network or for any loss, injury or damages resulting from the use of the wireless correction.
District Responsibility
The district will not be responsible for technological support of students' personal electronic devices when used for instructional purposes. Students are required to ensure that all devices are free from viruses before bringing them to school. Students who bring personal electronic devices to school do so at their own risk. The district assumes no responsibility for lost, stolen, damaged, or misplaced devices, including those that have been confiscated by district personnel.
The Yondr pouch is the property of the school. If a student damages the school-owned pouch or is caught with a phone, they will be subject to disciplinary action, damage consists of any signs that the physical integrity of the pouch has been compromised, whether intentional or unintentional, as determined by the school administration or the Yondr company. If lost, stolen, or damaged, replacement pouches cost $35.00.
Students caught with their personal electronic device outside of the pouch will receive the following consequences:
1st Offense: 3 days in-school suspension
2ns Offense: 5 days of in-school suspension
3rd Offense: 3 days of out-of-school suspension and a mandatory meeting between building administrator and parent. Any offense after two, the student could also face additional consequences for the in-subordination of intentionally not following the school district policy.
If, for some reason, students don't have their pouch, they must get a loner pouch from the main office. After two days of using the loner pouch, students will need to purchase a new one or not bring their devices within the building.
Students who have a documented medical condition on file with the school and who need their personal device to monitor their condition, will be provided with an approved access granted by the building administrator.
Teachers who request to have students use their personal phones for an instructional lesson, or for dual authentication purposes can borrow an unlocking device as needed.
There may be days that building administrators designate as days when students won't use their Yondr pouches. These days may include reward days for students or such things such as homecoming and field trips.
Students are allowed to use their personal electronic devices outside of instructional time while on school property. Outside of instructional time is defined by the arrival and dismissal time of school as outlines in school handbooks. Students doing so must use these devices in accordances with all applicable laws and board policies dealing with technology usage. Students who violate those policies are subject to consequences from the school or local law enforcement.
Approved: 11/19/2025. Adopted: 11/19/2025. Revised: 11/19/2025.