Even though it is still suturing hot and humid, summer vacation is coming to an end for school age children. They will return to the classroom in a couple of weeks and settle into new policies, education requirements and regulations that have been passed and implemented at the state and local level. One such policy is the wireless communication device plan.
The Florida legislature passed new laws regarding wireless devices to enhance safe and uninterrupted learning environments which unified and strengthened policies implemented at the local school districts. The Jackson County School Board approved the following Wireless Communication Device Plan on July 13, 2023. The following plan has been provided from the Code of Student Conduct and Discipline for Jackson County Schools for the 2023-2024.
“The Jackson County School District reserves the right to define the educational value of any new electronic wireless communication devices that may become available to the general public in the future and to prohibit their use if they have little or no educational value or if such use creates learner distraction or disruption.”
“1. Students may carry an electronic communication device to school and school-sponsored activities. However, the use of wireless communication devices, upon arrival on the school campus in the a.m. until the last dismissal bell in the p.m. on the school site, is prohibited and they shall be turned completely off and kept out of sight.”
“2. Electronic communicative devices include, but are not limited to, two-way radios, cellular phones and pagers, as well as PDA’s and laptops with two-way messaging capabilities.”
“3. Wireless communication usage is not allowed, upon arrival on the school campus in the a.m. until the last dismissal bell in the p.m. on the school site. Usage is not allowed on any portion of the school campus at any time during the school day, including school-sponsored activities during the school day, unless an emergency situation exists, as defined by District or school staff.”
“4. Wireless communication device usage by students while riding to and from school on the bus, or on the bus during school-sponsored activities is prohibited. Distracting behavior that creates an unsafe environment will not be tolerated.”
“5. It is the students’ responsibility to ensure that their wireless communication devices are turned off and out of sight during unauthorized times. Students who violate the above restrictions shall be deemed to have created a disruption to the instructional environment and are subject to disciplinary action including suspension as well as confiscation and return of the device to the student, student’s parents or guardians after the end of the school day.”
“6. Students shall be personally and solely responsible for the security of their wireless communication devices. The Jackson County School Board shall not assume responsibility for theft, loss, or damage of a device, or unauthorized calls made on a cell phone.”
“7. There are criminal and noncriminal penalties for the offense of sexting. A minor commits the offense of sexting if he or she knowingly uses a computer, or similar device, to transmit or distribute to another minor any photograph or video of any person which depicts nudity and is harmful to minors or possesses a photograph or video of any person that was transmitted or distributed by another minor which depicts nudity and is harmful to minors.”
In addition to being informed of the wireless policy, I would like to remind you of the Back-To-School Sales Tax Holiday which ends Sunday, August 6. The Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday includes the following items clothing, shoes, backpacks, school supplies such as notebooks, binders, paper, pens, pencils, learning aids including flashcards, puzzle books, jigsaw puzzles, personal computers, tablets, electronic book readers, and other related accessories.
Our world is in a constant state of change and debate. Arming yourself with unbiased information will provide the knowledge you need to make the decision for yourself. That well-informed decision will significantly impact the community we live in. I will leave you with that thought and that concludes this week’s The Straight Truth With Mary Ann Hutton.