By ANGELINE ASATOURIAN

At Orangewood High School, a new cell phone policy is starting on April 4. This policy was created due to cell phone abuse taking up class time. There will also be new consequences to go with it. 

The new policy states that starting on April 4, teachers may allow the use of cell phones or any electronic devices for a designated time “for a specific educational opportunity” or if there is an emergency, but there must be a verbal “explicit permission” before the electronic device is pulled out to be used. 

As with any rules, there are consequences for using these devices without the permission of school personnel. 

According to the policy, the first offense will result in the teacher issuing a verbal warning, with the parents or guardians being notified. 

The second offense will have the device confiscated for the rest of the school day, but will be “released to the student.” 

The third  offense will be having the device once again confiscated “for the remainder of the school day,” and parents or guardians will have to come to the Orangewood High School administration office and pick up the device. 

The policy states, “Orangewood High school is not responsible for stolen, lost, or damaged electronic devices.” 

Some students at Orangewood are not too pleased to be having this new policy and others say they understand the reason for it. 

Johnathan McGuire, a junior at Orangewood said, “I think they should change it, not like get rid of it, but revise it.” 

Monica Penunuri, a sophomore at Orangewood, states “I don’t like it, but I get it.” 

Students can attend School Site Council meetings and discuss their concerns with the staff.