Because student use of cell phones during school hours has become a security issue as well as a distraction to the learning process, the Berrien County Board of Education has approved a new cell phone policy for Berrien High School.  This policy will be enforced from the first day of school.

The policy is as follows:

1. Each student will be issued a lock and locker to secure personal belongings, including cell phones.
2. Cell phones must be secured in the lockers between the tardy bell in the a.m. and the dismissal bell in the p.m.
3. If a cell phone is confiscated (phones will be confiscated if seen anytime during the school day) a parent may pick up the phone the following day, with 2 options:

• (A) Student must sign a contract that states the next confiscation will result in the phone being held for 30 days or parent may pick up and pay a $30.00 fine.  After the first fine, student will fall into the option (B) at the third confiscation level.
• (B) If they refuse to sign the contract, student will be subject to the following:
• 2nd confiscation:  3 days ISS
• 3rd confiscation:  5 days OSS
• 4th confiscation:  10 days OSS, referral to tribunal

If a student refuses to surrender the cell phone an automatic 3 day suspension will be imposed on the 1st offense and subsequent offenses will follow of 5, 10 days and referral to tribunal hearing.