Cell Phone Policy

In case of emergency, parents need to call the office of their child's school.

Bellport High School: (631) 730-1575
Bellport Middle School: (631) 730-1626
Frank P. Long Intermediate School: (631) 730-1727
Brookhaven Elementary School: (631) 730-1702
Kreamer Street Elementary School: (631) 730-1650
Verne W. Critz Elementary School: (631) 730-1675
South Haven Early Childhood Center: (631) 730-2181

• Students in grades K-5 are not permitted to have internet-enable devices in school
• Students in grades 6-12 are strongly encouraged to leave all internet-enabled devices at home.  Should students in grades 6-12 feel the need to bring internet-enabled devices to school, they must be stored in their school-issued locker for the duration of the school day. 

A bell-to-bell band refers to the time a student arrives until the time they are dismissed.  This includes all instructional periods, passing time, lunch, recess, homerooms, and study halls. 

At the high school and middle school level, students must silence their phones upon arrival, and all electronic devices must be stored in the student's locker. 

Students who leave early for an approved early dismissal, medical emergency, or an athletic event will be able to access their locker and retrieve their device.

Students will only be permitted to use headphones with cords to connect to their school-issued device.  All Bluetooth devices, including AirPods, smartwatches, and other headphones, must be stored in lockers. 

During the school day, teachers are actively teaching and may not be checking their phones/laptops until they have a free period.  Parents should refrain from using this as a form of contact for emergencies, which include changes in pick-up procedures.  Families must contact the main office to speak directly to an employee who will get the message to their child. 

If there is a need for students to contact you during the school day, they can make calls from the main office.  Additional phones are located in the nurse's office and the guidance office. 

As per Board of Education Policy 5695 , devices include 
internet-enabled devices" defined as: any smartphone, tablet, smartwatch, or other device capable of connecting to the internet and enabling the user to access content on the internet, including social media applications, but to not include any such devices supplied by the district for educational purposes. Other personal electronic devices include devices include devices which are not capable of connect to the internet and access content on the internet, fitness trackers, wired or wireless headphones and earbuds, and e-readers, voice recorders, cameras and music devices.  These devices can create significant distraction to the school environment, negatively impact student mental health, contribute to disciplinary infractions, and reduces student engagement. Additionally, in an emergency, the use of personal electronic devices can distract students from following the directions of staff or emergency responders, contribute to the spread of misinformation, create congestion in the emergency response system, and interfere with teh district's emergency response protocols. 

Yes.  Students are permitted to use their cell phones before entering the building each morning and can begin using them once they are dismissed at the end of the school day. 

Yes.  Before and after school.  Cell phones will not be permitted on buses when students are on a field trip during the instructional day unless authorized by the building principal. 

Exceptions, with administrative approval and documentation, may be granted for students with medical needs, students with family care responsibilities, and students in grades four and five who walk home unsupervised. 

The safety of students and staff is our top priority during an emergency.  All safety protocols will be followed before communication is made to parents via ParentSquare. 

Teachers and staff should model "off and away" so they can focus on teaching and learning by being fully present.  Teachers do need to use phones to access the two-factor authentication security system the district has implemented. 

Every locker for students in grades 6-12 is equipped with built-in locks.  The only person given the combination is the student. 

Families should rely on factual information from the school district.  Currently, South Country CSD protocols include the frequent use of ParentSquare and website/social media notifications for sharing information and updates with families. If families are not signed up for ParentSquare, please access additional information on our website. 

The rules and consequences for inappropriate use of cell phones and/or social media posts have not changed.  Consequences range, and families should refer to the district's Code of Conduct. 

Students will be reminded of this policy regularly and consistently, especially at the start of the school year and after returning from breaks. For students out of compliance with this policy, the device will be held in the school office until the end of the school day.  The first time this happens, the student may retrieve the device, and the parent will be notified.  For subsequent instances, the parent or an adult listed as an emergency contact must retrieve the device. 

The district may not suspend from school if the sole ground for the suspension is that the student accessed an internet-enabled device as prohibited by this policy.  However, the district may utilize consequences under the district's Code of Conduct, including detention, in-school suspension, and exclusion from extracurricular activities.  The district may also utilize assignments on the detrimental impact of social media on mental health, smartphones in school, or other relevant topics. 

All students are expected to follow the distraction-free policy, however, reasonable accommodations will be made for students with disabilities as required by their Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan.  If a students has a documented need to access their phone or alternative assistive technology, this will be addressed through a Committee on Special Education meeting. 

Students who rely on personal devices for communication will be permitted to use them as outlined in their IEP or 504 Plan.  These devices will not be considered a distraction under this policy when used for approved, disability-related purposes.

These needs may be considered on a case-by-case basis by the IEP or 504 team.  The team will assess whether access to a phone is necessary support or if other accommodations (such as a computer application, access to a trusted adult, calm-down strategies, or school-based counseling) can effectively address the student's needs. 

Students are expected to follow all school rules, including the appropriate use of any approved accommodations. Misuse of phones beyond documented accommodations may result in consequences aligned with the school's Code of Conduct, while still considering the student's individual needs. 

If a student requires access to a medical application during the school day, this need will be reviewed and addressed through a Section 504 or Committee on Special Education (CSE) meeting.  The team will determine whether phone access is necessary and, if so, outline specific parameters for use in the student's 504 Plan or IEP.