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School district proposes harsher penalties for cellphones in class

The district revealed new policies related to phone use inside the classroom.

CLEVELAND COUNTY, N.C. — Cleveland County Schools officials are trying to cut out cellphone distractions with a new code of conduct for students.

The district discussed new policies for elementary, middle school, and high school students in the Cleveland County Board of Education meeting on Monday. The policies create different protocols for things like bullying, the dress code, and electronic devices, including cellphones.

School officials are taking a renewed focus to cut down on disruptions in class, looking to create the best learning environment for students.  

The biggest change is around phones and prohibiting students from using them during the school day.

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Inside the district's policy, Cleveland County Schools is looking to ban cellphones and wireless communication devices. The punishment varies on whether the phone is active or in use versus when a disruption is created that interrupts classroom instruction. 

Phones can't be active, displayed, or visible during school hours, according to the proposed policy. 

For the first offense, students would receive up to one day in-school suspension with the second and third offenses leading to more serious punishments. Elementary, middle, and high school students would receive the same punishments.

There are slightly different punishments if a student's cellphone creates a disruption.  

Monday's discussion was the first hearing of the policies. The board will look to approve the new policies at the next board meeting in June.

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