Sioux Falls School District not copying Gettysburg School District's 'device-free' policy

South Dakota's largest school district won't be reviewing or considering a policy change on cell phones in class rooms before the start of the school year, unlike other districts in the state.

Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken recently called a Gettysburg School District’s decision to be “device-free” a “bold leadership decision that I hope other districts follow,” but the Sioux Falls School District won't be weighing the choice any time soon.

The Gettysburg School District, which is more than 250 miles away from Sioux Falls, announced earlier this month all K-12 students will be device-free throughout the school day. Both the Platte-Geddes and Kimball school districts have announced similar plans in recent days.

Gettysburg elementary school students will turn off their devices and store them in their classroom or backpack through the school day, and middle and high school students will lock their smartphones, smartwatches and earbuds in a magnetic pouch throughout the school day.

In a statement, the school system said the move will minimize distraction, “provide the best learning environment possible for our students,” and better students’ mental and social-emotional health.

At the Sioux Falls School District, current policy gives the following guidelines for students who don’t stay “device-free” during the school day:

• Elementary students: Possessing a cell phone or other personal device that is turned on and/or within view on school property between the first bell or last bell of the school day, or on buses contracted by the district, unless otherwise authorized by school officials, will have it confiscated and returned to them at the end of the school day on the first violation. Subsequent violations will see the item confiscated to be picked up by a parent, or held in the school office for five days.

• Middle school students: Possessing a cell phone or other personal device that is turned on and/or within view on school property between the first bell or last bell of the school day, or on buses contracted by the district, unless otherwise authorized by school officials and/or using an electronic device for a non-educational purpose, will see it confiscated until the end of the school day on the first violation. A second violation will see it confiscated until it’s picked up by a parent, or held in the office for five days. A third violation leads to detention, and the device will be confiscated until it’s picked up by a parent, or held in the office for 10 days. A fourth violation also leads to detention, and the student may no longer bring their phone or device into school.

• High school students: Possessing a cell phone or other personal device that is turned on and/or within view on school property between the first bell or last bell of the school day, or on buses contracted by the district, unless otherwise authorized by school official, and/or using an electronic device for a non-educational purpose, will face a warning on the first violation and their device must be picked up by a parent. On the second violation they’ll face detention, and their device will be confiscated until it’s picked up by their parent, or held in the office for five days. On the third violation, they’ll face in-school suspension/suspension after school for one to three days, and their device will be confiscated until it’s picked up by a parent or held in the office for 10 days. On the fourth violation, they’ll face in-school suspension/suspension after school for three to five days, and they may no longer bring their phone or device into school.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Gettysburg's new 'device-free' rule won't be copied in Sioux Falls