Mobile phone directive adopted Only high school students are allowed to carry phones during the school day.

Restrictions on mobile phone use by students in Ely schools are now official.

School board members this week gave their final approval to changes to the district’s student handbook, adopting them by a 5-0 vote with Jennifer Westlund absent.

The restrictions expand the ban on cell phone ownership to include middle school students (grades 6-8), in addition to an existing restriction that applies to elementary school students (grades K-5).

High school students in grades 9 through 12 are allowed to own cell phones, but must keep them “completely out of sight.”

“In grades 9 to 12, phones must be out of sight and no one should be able to hear cell phones during class,” said principal Anne Oelke. “As soon as they are seen or heard, they can be taken away.”

High school students would be allowed to use their phones before or after school, as well as during recess and lunch.

All other students must leave their phones turned off and in their locker during the school day.

The policy allows teachers to take away a student’s phone or ask the principal to do so if they observe students violating the policy.

A new state law requires schools to implement cell phone policies, and Ely is following the example of many other school districts in restricting how — or if — students can use their phones.

Ely school administrators and faculty discussed the changes at the end of the school year, and Oelke said the district also reviewed sample policies sent out by state organizations.

The changes were adopted by the board this week without major discussion, but members approved the policy at first and second readings last month.