8332 Use of District-Owned Cell Phones

The Board of Education recognizes the technological advantages of purchasing and providing district-owned cell phones to a select number of employees. The Superintendent of Schools shall determine which select employees are issued District-owned cell phones. A list of job titles requiring District-owned cell phones shall be maintained by the Business Office and reported to the Board each year at its reorganizational meeting in July.

The rationale for choosing these individuals will be based on the employee’s job description and the need for these employees to be “on call” 24 hours a day. Typically, phones will be assigned to an employee who is in a supervisory position and whose job responsibilities have him/her out of his/her office on a frequent or regular basis.  Exceptions to this would include:

• A staff position (ex. Attendance Teacher) that is regularly out of a building during the course of a work day;


• A C.S.E. Chairperson who is assigned to a room without the availability of a land line phone; or


• A cell phone assigned to a school for the express purpose of parental contact by staff for attendance reasons or staff use on a field trip.

The purpose behind these cell phones is two-fold. First, cell phones provide immediate communication between essential personnel who may be traveling on school-related business to various locations both within and outside of the District. Second, cell phones have been cited as an integral management tool during crisis situations. Given both the size of the District and the focus on school safety, the purchase and use of a small number of cell phones for business purposes seems a wise, preventive measure.

As previously noted, District-owned cell phones are intended for business-related calls.  However, due to the nature of the calling plan purchased by the District, employees shall be permitted, within reasonable limits, occasional and brief personal usage of these phones.

To provide for this occasional and brief personal usage, the amount of $60 ($5 a month) will be deducted annually from the paycheck of each employee who is issued a District-owned cell phone. This amount will be divided equally over 26 paychecks. The employee shall make every attempt to use their cellular phones for business purposes only.

If an employee exceeds the number of allotted monthly minutes of the calling plan for his/her District-owned cell phone, the employee shall be responsible for the overage costs in that given month.

Additionally, the following rules shall apply regarding the use of District-owned cell phones:

1. The cell phone may not be used by anyone other than a District employee;
    
2. When accessing the cell phone in their cars, employees shall remember to obey all State and local traffic codes;

3. As a representative of the Brentwood Union Free School District, cell phone users are reminded that regular business etiquette employed when speaking from office phones or in meetings shall also apply to conversations conducted over a cell phone; and


4. Employees should be aware that cell phone invoices are subject to regular monitoring and review by the Superintendent or his/her designee.

As with any District-owned equipment, employees must take proper care of cell phones and take all reasonable precautions against damage, loss, or theft. Any damage, loss, or theft must be reported immediately to the Business Office. Upon termination of employment or separation from the District, an employee issued a District-owned cell phone shall return the cell phone to the Business Office. Any employee who fails to surrender such cell phone shall be responsible for reimbursement of the actual cost of the cell phone and any additional charges the District incurs as a result of such failure.

The Board shall review this policy on an annual basis to assess both the value of providing District-owned cell phones to a select number of employees as well as determining the cost savings to the District. The calling plan discount and the e-rate discount will be factored into the overall cost savings to the District.

Adopted as amended by the Board of Education: 01/24/05
Revision Approved by the Board of Education:  04/14/11      
Revision Approved by the Board of Education: 10/20/22

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