Dear Parents/Guardians,

Beginning with the 2025-26 school year, the Festus R-VI School District will implement a new personal electronic communication device policy to comply with a new state statute prohibiting the use of personal electronic communication devices from the beginning of the school day until the end of the school day. Research shows that eliminating personal communication devices from the classroom during instructional time has significant benefits for the school setting.  Among other things, it:

• Reduces distractions by minimizing off-task behaviors like texting, gaming and social media scrolling,

• Improves classroom engagement by encouraging students to focus on the teacher instruction and in-person collaboration with other students, 

• Promotes wellness by limiting stress and comparison associated with constant device use which supports a healthier mental state, and

• Supports equity of experience by ensuring all students receive the same opportunity to engage in learning.

We are confident adopting the following personal electronic communication device policies will significantly enhance the learning environment at school.  We also recognize that this policy may raise concerns, which we address below.

Definition

Personal electronic communication devices are defined as phones, smartwatches, personal laptops, tablets, wireless headphones, and other electronic personal communications devices that can access cellular data or the internet.  Prohibited times include class time, lunch, breaks, time between classes, and study halls.  

The School Day

The beginning of the school day is defined as:

Festus High School:  7:40am

Festus Middle School: 7:35am

Festus Intermediate School: 8:35am

Festus Elementary School: 8:45am

The end of the school day is defined at the High School and Middle School as the time that the bell rings to dismiss class for the day.  They are defined as:

Festus High School: 2:37pm

Festus Middle School: 2:25pm

At the Elementary and Intermediate Schools it is the time students are dismissed to buses.  Those times are defined as:

Festus Intermediate School: 3:15pm

Festus Elementary School:  3:25pm  

Personal Electronic Communication Devices

At Festus High School and Festus Middle School students are expected to turn off all personal electronic communication devices and place them in their assigned lockers for the duration of the day.  This includes cell phones, smartwatches, personal laptops, tablets, wireless headphones, or other electronic communication devices.   They may be removed from their lockers after the final bell to dismiss class for the day rings. 

The Early Childhood Center,  Elementary School and Intermediate Schools do not have assigned lockers for all students.  In these buildings, students are expected to turn off all of their personal communication devices and place them in their backpacks that will be placed in the back of the classroom for the duration of the day.

Consequences

Consequences for failing to adhere to the new policy are progressive.

At Festus High School and Festus Middle School:

1st Offense: Warning

2nd & 3rd Offenses: Lunch Detention

4th and 5th Offenses: After School Detention

6th (& subsequent offenses):  In-School Suspension

At Festus Early Childhood Center, Elementary School and Festus Intermediate School:

1st Offense: Warning

2nd Offense: Phone call home and device stored in the office until the end of the day when the student may retrieve it

3rd Offense: Confiscation of device by administration with a parent phone call notifying them that he/she may collect the device in the school office at their convenience.

4th & subsequent offenses: Additional consequences may be assessed, up to and including In-School Suspension 

Concerns

We understand some parents may need to reach their students during the school day, especially in case of an emergency.  Should you need to get in touch with your child, you can call their school office and our staff will get a message to them or bring them to the office to speak with you if necessary.

Health and safety of our students and staff are our top priorities. If your child has a medical condition requiring the use of a personal device, a meeting can be scheduled with our Director of Student Services to address your student’s specific needs.  Examples of conditions that may qualify for an exemption include students with diabetes who check their blood sugar using a phone, or students with an auditory condition requiring hearing assistance.

At the middle school and high school levels coaches and activity sponsors will communicate game or practice information the day before, to ensure all athletes/students can access the information before they get to school for the day.

Staff

School staff are not subject to the new state statute or District policy; however, we expect our staff to model behavior for students.  Staff will be allowed to use personal electronic communication devices for work-related purposes only..  

We understand that this is a big change for many of our families, but it is a change that will have a positive impact on the learning environment in our schools.  If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact me by email at ruessnicki@festusedu.com.