BOISE, Idaho — For the upcoming 2024-25 school year, students in the Vallivue School District will notice a change regarding cell phones. The Superintendent sent a letter to parents addressing the district's "expectations."
On Thursday, July 18, Superintendent Lisa Boyd said in the letter while cell phones are convenient, "our teachers, administrators, and trustees believe the quality of social interactions and academic achievement will improve with the new expectations for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year."
The policy is called 518 Student Electronic Devices and deems cell phones a "Personal Communication Device." Other items that fall under the categorization are tablets, personal computers, laptops, iPods/MP3 players, and electronic readers.
The policy also states students are not allowed to access the internet or social media from their devices on school property.
The letter provided a list of "expectations" its students must follow when they arrive at school:
- "High school and middle school students are required to turn off their personal communication devices and securely store them in their cars or lockers upon arrival at school. At no time is a high school or middle school student allowed to have a personal communication device on their person (pockets, backpacks, wearables, etc) while on school campus."
- "Elementary school students must turn off their personal communication device and keep it in their backpacks throughout the school day."
- "All personal communication devices must be stored away during all school hours, including lunch, passing periods, snack break, free periods, recess, assemblies, etc."
- "Use and/or storage location accommodations of personal communication devices may be made for students with medical or health needs (e.g. diabetic monitoring). In these case-by-case circumstances, phone use and/or storage will be determined by administration or the IEP/504 team."
"We understand this change will be a difficult transition, but we hope that it will lead to significant improvements in school culture, academic engagement, and peer-to-peer relationships. The district and building principals will continue to provide detailed guidelines and support to help ease into the new expectations," Boyd said in the letter.
For further information about the policy and times where there are exceptions, visit the school district's website here.