OPEN SOURCE

We published this story in response to a reader suggestion. Do you have a tip for our reporters? Click here to submit it.

MOUNT VERNON — With the passage of House Bill 250 (HB250) requiring school districts to implement a student cell phone policy, Knox County school boards have instituted their own rules, each with varying language.

A Knox Pages reader asked the newsroom, what is Knox County Career Center’s student cell phone policy?

Knox County Career Center superintendent Kathy Greenich said the district already had a student cell phone policy before HB250’s passage.

“We are monitoring what other schools are doing,” Greenich said. “(We’re) getting feedback from our staff and will review our policy in the spring.”

Students may be allowed to possess electronic communications devices while on school property or while attending school-sponsored activities on or off school property, according to the district’s policy.

The policy further states students can have their “electronic communication devices” as long as they’re used in compliance with building regulations.

Students violating the district’s procedures may have their devices confiscated and may be subject to discipline.

Other Knox County school cell phone policies

In Fredericktown, the school board approved a ban on student cell phone use at July’s special meeting.

The cell phone policy applies to all students on school property during school hours.

● Grades 6 to 12: Students are prohibited from using cell phones between 7:45 a.m. and
2:45 p.m.

● Grades K-5: Students are prohibited from using cell phones between 8:45 a.m. and 3:45
p.m.

According to the policy, if cell phones are brought to school, they must remain in student backpacks or school-assigned lockers and be turned off during the school day.

Danville Local Schools unanimously passed a cell phone ban for students in May’s board of education meeting. The policy will go into effect this school year.

Mount Vernon City School board of education has approved a district-wide cell phone policy.

The policy, approved at the July 18 meeting, puts limitations on cell phone use in elementary, middle and high school buildings for students.