CELL PHONES:

The Thomas County Board of Education discourages students from bringing cell phones to school. The use of cell phones and other electronic devices is prohibited during school hours. School hours begin at 7:30 A.M. and end when school is dismissed for the day. Students remaining for afterschool detention are under the same electronic device rules as the normal school day hours. All phones/electronic devices at TCMS will be completely turned off and kept out of sight during school hours. Phones should not be left on stand-by, silent, or vibrate mode. Any electronic device seen and/or heard, ringing or vibrating, in the open or hidden in clothing, book bags, etc. may be confiscated by any teacher and/or administrator. Students who have their phones/electronic devices confiscated may pay a $5.00 fee and get their phones/electronic devices back at the end of the day. Phones/electronic devices will be returned to parents/guardians free of charge. Students who fail to surrender phones/electronic devices to a teacher or administrator will follow the interventions/consequences according to the behavior chart, p. 14. Students who persistently use their electronic devices may be referred for defiance.