August 8, 2024 – Decatur Public Schools held a “Community Partners Informational Forum” to discuss the district’s new “Power Off Phones-Power Up Learning” initiative.
The DPS61 Board of Education recently updated school board policy 7:190 regarding student behavior pertaining to personal cell phones and electronic devices in school. Beginning on the first day of school on Monday, August 12, all students are encouraged to keep all personal cell phones, earbuds, smart watches or other non-issued school electronic devices at home. If a student chooses to bring them to school, they are to be kept powered off and placed in their locker or classroom-designated location.
Administrators met with community partners Thursday to discuss, not only the policy, but the repercussions of not following the rules in hopes of getting more buy-in from the community and parents.
According to DPS61, students who refuse to obey the policy will first receive a warning with the parent or guardian contacted. A second offense will result in a classroom referral. The third offense will result in a disciplinary referral to the office and a fourth offense will result in stronger punishment according to the Student Code of Conduct.
“This policy will allow students to focus more on academic achievement and building meaningful-positive relationships. Although we continue to plead with parents/families to partner with us, as they are ultimately responsible for their students, we call upon the greater Decatur community to reinforce our message to our students and families as District staff enforces the updates/changes starting on the first day of school, August 12, 2024.”
DPS61 administrators also discussed potential bad behavior by both students and parents, issuing a warning that students who become “grossly defiant, threaten staff, or become disruptive, may be suspended out of school for three days. For parents, DPS61 warns that threatening staff or belligerent behavior may result in arrest and the parent being issued a “No Trespass” letter for all DPS61 properties.
