Whether the student see it or not, cell phones are a big problem Dimond is faced with. A majority of teenagers have one and many students use theirs during class. There are a few legitimate reasons cell phones are a useful use relating to academics, said Dimond teacher Cullen Lickingteller. Freshman Samantha Plett thinks cell phones are a necessary accessory for all students. “What if there is an emergency and we need to call 911?” said Plett. Students have different opinions on whether teachers should be allowed to take phones and bring them to the office to have parents pick them up. “During class [students shouldn’t be allowed to use cell phones], there are other supplies,” said Dimond teacher Nathaniel Normandin. “You can’t monitor cell phones but you can monitor computers and calculators.” “I agree with [the cell phone policy],” said Normandin. Having phones taken away “is a consequence.” Junior Megan Baumer said, “I think [teachers] should have a good reason to take our phones away, but it is also our private property. Students should be responsible enough to get their own cellular devices.” Plett agrees with Baumer. “It is a violation of our privacy. They should give them back after class,” said Plett. Freshman Maria Ramirez thinks if students are using their phones during class teachers should take them, but she thinks students should be able to pick them up themselves after school. Dimond teacher Michael Baum said taking phones “is a good deterrent, I will enforce any policies given to me.” Erika Reed, sophomore, said, “Teachers should be able to take them away for the class period, but they shouldn’t be sent to the office,.” Lickingteller said, “I make the kids write an essay [instead of taking them to the office]. That way parents aren’t inconvenienced.” Senior Katie Hall said, “There is no need to inconvenience the parents like that.” Freshman Emily Carey thinks parents shouldn’t have to pick up cell phones, but they should be made aware. Students agree that there shouldn’t be a rule that says cell phones have to stay in lockers. “We definitely should not have to leave them in our lockers, things get stolen out of lockers all the time. Where we keep them should be our choice,” said Hall. Freshman Caitlin Peterson said students should be allowed to keep cell phones on their person, “Too much stuff get stolen in lockers.” At Dimond, students are allowed to use cell phones during lunch. Students should make sure to put phones away when the bell rings to let you out of lunch, not when the bell rings to start class. Different people have different views on whether students should be able to use our phones during passing period and lunch. “[Not during] passing. You might run into someone,” said Carey. Plett said, “Yes [we should be able to] because teachers aren’t teaching our persons.” Alexis Gratz, freshman, said, “We should be able to use them any time other than when we’re working.” Baumer said, “During lunch and passing should be fine. It isn’t disrupting class.” The current policy is school district-wide, said Dimond High School Principal Cheryl Guyett. “Staff are asked to follow the same guidelines as the students,” said Guyett. If a staff member has a emergency and someone calls the front desk the staff member will be contacted immediately. The smarter and the more capacity the phone has, the more it becomes the child’s life, said Guyett. When a cell phone is taken away, unless a law is broken, staff would rather not intrude and look in the phone, said Guyett. If a student is caught texting and their phone is taken away, staff members could go to the classroom of the other texter and take their phone; however, “There’s no time and there are higher priorities,” said Guyett. “We certainly could [take it] but haven’t.” When an electronic device is confiscated it goes to Patsy Shaha’s office and into a locked safe. When the parent comes to pick it up he or she must sign a paper. The paper says the next time that the student’s electronic device is taken the parent will choose if the student will attend three detentions or have a three-day suspension.