Calvert County Public Schools (CCPS) could be making changes to its Student Code of Conduct that will result in easing restrictions on electronic communications devices. A review of the latest draft of the code was conducted Thursday, April 25 during the Calvert County Board of Education’s (BOE) work session. The modifications were presented by Executive Director of Administration Kim Roof and Supervisor of Student Services Molly Gearhart.

A committee reviewing the code is considering changes to the current policy, including total elimination of a grid that cites punitive measures for the number of infractions should a student use or visibly carry a cellphone or electronic communications device in school. The revised wording states “if a student violates the guidelines and practices regarding pagers, cellular telephones and other communication devices as noted in this section, progressive discipline will be applied. Cell phones may be confiscated, require parent pickup and may be restricted from school property.”

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jack Smith cited the success of a pilot program at Huntingtown High School (HHS) where students are allowed to use cellphones during lunch period and the looming significance of electronic communications devices as an education tool as good reasons to modify the policy.

According to Smith, HHS Principal Rick Weber has reported the pilot program “has gone very well this year. Cell phone violations have actually gone down at Huntingtown High this year.”  Smith said he would recommend expanding the program to the other three high schools.

Smith stated electronic communication devices are going to be an important component of education in the future so an environment has to be created now in order to make using the devices acceptable in the future. The superintendent also told the BOE he believes some of the more egregious misuses of the phones by students have dramatically decreased.

Board Member Tracy McGuire indicated she was pleased with the proposed change since it will remove some of the ambiguity of the current CCPS policy.

Board Vice President Kelly McConkey indicated he was concerned about the impact phone confiscation had on the parents who have given their children the devices to carry and use. “I kind of feel like were punishing the parents,” said McConkey, who also indicated concern about requiring a parent to come to school to reclaim the phone or meet with an administrator regarding a violation. Roof said school officials are trying to do their best to work with parents to avoid any violations or misuse of cell phones in schools.

Other pending modifications to the code of conduct would affect changes in the policies for school search and seizure, student expression, tobacco, medications, the Alternate Education Program and the In School Suspension Program. Smith noted that the latter program has been praised by state education officials and CCPS is considered “one of the most positive systems in the state” for having discipline and meeting the goal of getting disciplined students back in the classroom. The superintendent noted Calvert’s public schools have gone several years without a student expulsion.

Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com