Policy: 6250P

Title: Procedure - District Issued Cell Phones

Section: Support Management

Status: Active

Adopted: August 26, 2025

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Procedure - District Issued Cell Phones

The purpose of this procedure is to outline the reasons that support an employee needing a District issued cell phone and the process of submitting a request. 

A School District-owned cell phone will be issued to a District employee when required by that employee’s job duties and as determined by the Superintendent or designee. 

Criteria and business justification for providing a District-owned mobile device. 

• Employee is expected to be on call outside of scheduled work hours 

• Supervisor/Manager in direct escalation path for on-call employees 

• Employees whose jobs require constant availability and regularly work in areas where there is no desk or office phones 

• Employees who directly support emergency management preparedness and response leadership 

• Employees whose jobs require frequent and/or significant time outside the School District 

• Senior Administrators whose job responsibilities require them to be available and responsive to executive leadership. 

Who can approve a District-owned mobile device? 

Requests for cell phones must be made from the overseeing Administrator. If a department head determines that an employee’s job duties necessitate the need for a District-owned mobile device, they must process a request through their assigned Executive Team Leader. Costs of the mobile device and monthly fees will be incurred by the department requesting the device. If the Executive Team Member is in agreement with the request, he/she will submit a written request (e-mail or memo) to the Assistant Superintendent of Business and Support Services. The request must contain the designated employee’s name, position, office location, funding source/account code, and the reason a cell phone is needed for job performance. 

If the cell phone request is approved, the business office will inform Information Technology who will arrange for issuance of the approved cell phones to the employee. 

Issuance of District Cell Phones 

Additionally, the following rules and conditions shall apply regarding the use of a District-owned phone: 

Employees with District cell phones must sign the Cell Phone Use Agreement and Technology Use Agreement. 

Cell phones are official District property. Employees are responsible for proper safeguarding of their assigned cell phone device. Employees must reimburse the District if improper or negligent care leads to damage or loss of a cell phone. 

The use of District cell phones to place calls while driving is generally prohibited. However, cell phones equipped with a built-in hands-free device must be used for mobile voice calls in critical and time sensitive situations as allowed under law.  

District employees with cell phones are not authorized to make any changes to their District cell phone service or account. Information Technology is the only authorized agent to make any changes to the District cell phone accounts or services with the cell phone service provider. 

All records related to the District issued cell phone are property of the District and potentially subject to disclosure. This includes but is not limited to text messages, pictures, voice messages, statements, emails, and call logs. 

The use of a District cell phone is a privilege, not a right. Depending on the nature and degree of any violation(s) and the number of previous violations, unacceptable use of District issued cell phones may result in one or more of the following consequences: removal of access privileges; payments for loss, damages and repairs; discipline under other appropriate District policies, including but not limited to: written reprimand, suspension or termination of employment; or civil or criminal liability under other applicable laws. 

Separation from the District 

Employees separating from the District must return their cell phone to Information Technology.  

When an employee is involuntarily separated, their immediate supervisor must collect the cell phone and associated accessories purchased by the District and ensure the items are returned to the Information Technology Department.  Failure of a separating employee to return an assigned cell phone device may result in a deduction from the employee’s final paycheck. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adopted: 08.26.2025

Ferndale School District 

Revised Dates: