Chambana Sun

Students using cell phones in class has become such a problem at Danville Community Consolidated School District 118 that the school administration is doing what it can to halt the learning disruptions.

Dr. Elizabeth Yacobi, the district's assistant superintendent for secondary education, addressed updated guidelines, requirements and consequences for student cell phone usage during a June 15 Board of Education meeting.

"The students can bring them to school, but they are to be out of sight and may not be utilized during the school day. They are subject to confiscation," Yacobi said during the meeting which was posted on YouTube. "We need to educate our parents more about stop calling your children when they are in class or texting. Texting is the same thing. We had to educate parents and staff about videotaping someone against their knowledge is against the law, under the Illinois Eavesdropping Act, as well as bringing cell phones into the school and videotaping by our parents is against the law. So if you'll notice, we have signs in all of our buildings now that say no videotaping, no videos."

According to Illinois law, it is illegal to record audio, video or both, any or all parts of a private conversation without the knowledge and prior consent of all parties involved. The only exception to the law involve criminal investigations and law enforcement officers. 

The Danville School Board did vote 5-0 in favor of strengthening guidelines surrounding cell phone rules in the district. The first offense would constitute a verbal warning and/or student conference, while the second would lead to confiscation of the mobile device and possible dismissal pending a parent meeting. 

The updated cell phone agreement for the district still allows students to have their devices, but messaging must be off. Teachers would also be given the ability to require students to place their mobile devices outside the classroom or in the office during standardized testing.