Dear Benson Tech Community,
By now, you have likely heard that the Board voted to ban cell phone use in schools for all PPS students beginning next school year. The decision came after the Board spent months receiving feedback and public comment from educators, families, and students.
At Benson Polytechnic High School, we recognize that cell phones are an important part of our students' lives and can be used for various purposes such as communication, education, entertainment, and safety. However, we also believe that cell phone use in the classroom can be a source of distraction, disruption, and disrespect and cell phones can sometimes interfere with our students’ learning process and our school climate. We have had our current cell policy in place since the beginning of the school year and as we head into the second semester of the school year we want to begin to prepare our students for being able to navigate the school day without the use of cell phones starting with the upcoming school year. Therefore, we have revised our current cell phone policy for the the remainder of this school year as we approach the District's new cell phone policy of "Off and Away All Day" which will take place during the 2025-26 school year.
Our current cell phone policy will remain the same for the remainder of this school year except for one piece that's italicized and listed below.
1. Students are not allowed to use cell phones/wireless devices during class time, including in the hallways. This includes texting, calling, browsing, gaming, social media, or any other activity that involves the use of a cell phone.
2. During class time, cell phones and wireless devices must be stored away at all times by the student and must not be visible or accessible to the student.
3. Students may use their cell phones before school, at lunchtime, and during passing time. However, students must follow the school rules and expectations regarding appropriate interactions and respectful behavior when using their cell phones.
4. We ask that parents call the school office at (503) 916-5100 if there is an emergency and they need to reach their child. The office staff will relay the message to the student or the teacher as soon as possible. Please do not call or text your child directly during class time as this may disrupt the learning environment.
If a student violates the Benson Tech current cell phone policy:
1. A first violation will result in the cell phone being taken and delivered to the main office where the student can pick up the phone at the end of the day. (New)
2. A second violation will result in the cell phone being held in the main office until the parent or guardian can come to the school and pick up the cell phone.
Please note that due to some extenuating circumstances there will be a few exceptions to this policy. We appreciate your cooperation and support in enforcing this cell phone policy. We believe that this policy will help us create a positive and productive learning environment for all our students and staff as we begin to prepare for the District's new cell phone policy of "Off and Away All Day" starting in 2025-26.
Benson Tech Administration
