FILE:  GAMI

Cf:  GAMIA

 

USE OF TELECOMMUNICATION AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES

 

 

TELECOMMUNICATION DEVICES

 

Sabine Parish School Board employees may possess electronic telecommunications devices in any elementary or secondary school buildings, or on the grounds thereof, or on or in any school bus used to transport students, but shall only be allowed to use them during their planning period or non-duty time or as may be allowed by the principal.

 

Notwithstanding the above provisions, this policy shall not affect the conduct of law enforcement activities including the use of electronic detection devices, dogs or other means of conducting searches for weapons, drugs, or other contraband in whatever manner is otherwise permitted by law and consistent with School Board policy.

 

Nothing in this section shall prohibit the use and operation by any person, including students, of any electronic telecommunications device in the event of an emergency.  Emergency means an actual or imminent threat to public health or safety which may result in the loss of life, injury, or property damage.

 

Exceptions

 

School administrators and supervisors may be permitted to carry cell phones in sight due to administrative and safety responsibilities.  It is suggested that the phone be in the vibrate mode and used out of the sight of students whenever possible.  No personal use of the cell phone is allowed except as provided above for the teachers and staff.

 

ELECTRONIC RECORDING DEVICES

 

No employee of the Sabine Parish School Board shall utilize an electronic recording device to surreptitiously record a telephone or face-to-face conversation with any other person while the employee is on duty or where the communication concerns school matters.  To protect the privacy rights of the individual who is subject to the use of a recording device, a school employee shall not record a conversation with another person without that person’s permission.  If permission to record is denied by another person, no employee shall surreptitiously record a conversation with any other person.

 

This policy shall have no application to the following:

 

  1. A recording made at the direct request and in conjunction with a member of a law enforcement agency pursuant to the investigation of criminal conduct by that agency;

  2. A recording made to preserve a criminal threat of personal injury or property damage by a third party, i.e. a bomb threat or threat to physically harm a teacher, student or other person;

  3. Due process hearings for employees or students where recordation of the proceedings is required by state law or School Board policy, such including, but not limited to student suspension or expulsion hearings at the Superintendent level, grievance hearings, or teacher tenure hearings before the School Board; and,

  4. A recording made for concerted activity purposes or as otherwise protected by law.

 

New policy:  December 9, 2019

 

 

Ref:    La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§14:40.3, 17:81, 17:239

Board minutes, 12-9-19

 

Sabine Parish School Board