Dear South High Families,
As we prepare for the start of the 2025–26 school year, we want to inform you of an important change to our daily operations in accordance with Senate Bill 68, signed into Missouri law on July 9, 2025. This law requires all public schools to implement a policy prohibiting student use or display of personal communication devices during the school day. The law features exceptions for emergencies and for students with specific educational or health needs.
What are personal communications devices? Well, according to the state of Missouri and as outlined in our district policy JFCI which discusses the ban of “communication devices,” they are any device that uses, stores, plays, and receives media. The law includes:
Cell phones
Tablets
Personal laptops
Smartwatches
Portable media players
Earbuds or headphones (unless explicitly required for instructional use with a district‑issued device)
This means that beginning August 18, all cell phones, headphones, and other personal communication devices must be off and put away from the first bell at 7:25 AM to the final bell at 2:25 PM. This includes passing times, lunch, and any other non-instructional periods. Devices should remain in a student’s backpack, locker, or vehicle during the school day. Here’s an easier to read summary of SB-68
Students must use only district‑issued Chromebooks or approved assistive technology for academic purposes. Personal tablets or laptops are not allowed as substitutes for school‑issued devices.
We recognize that students will be adjusting to these new expectations the first days of school. Please support your students and our school by having conversations with them regarding these new rules which will apply on day one. We are all (every public school in the state) in this together and we can help our students build healthy technology habits which will benefit them in the future.
Our district and school discipline policy JG-R has been adjusted to fit this new state law. We will dole out consistent consequences when violated which are summarized below:
+1st Offense - Warning (parent notified by email or phone, student pick-up phone in office at end of the day)
+2nd Offense - 2 hours detention (parent notified by email/phone, student pick-up phone in office end of day)
+3rd Offense - 4 hours detention (parent notified by email or phone, parent pick-up phone)
+4th and 5th Offense - 3 days ZAEP, parent pick up phone
+6th - 9th Offense - 5 days ZAEP, parent pick up phone
+Subsequent Offenses - See Chronic Disciplinary Violations, OSS
+Chronic Disciplinary Violations- 5 to 10 days OSS with possible referral to
Superintendent for additional suspension days
Should you need to contact your student during the day please use the appropriate grade level office get a message to your child:
9th grade, Dr. Hahn and Secretary Mrs. Gedney-636-978-1212 ext. 13506
10th grade, Mrs .Goellner and Secretary Mrs. Hager 636-978-1212 ext. 13508
11th grade, Mr. Serles and Secretary Mrs. Baerman 636-978-1212 ext. 13503
12th grade, Dr. Garbarini and Mrs. LaBeau 636-978-1212 ext. 13501
Students with medical conditions that require the use of a cellphone to operate their medical device may contact school administration or the nurse. Documentation regarding the condition will be required from the student’s health care provider. Any medical requests are at the full discretion of the building administration, school nurse, and district student services department and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
We appreciate your partnership in helping create a focused, respectful and distraction free learning environment for all South High Students. Stay tuned for another email from me soon regarding back to school general information.
Go Bulldogs!
Dr. Grawer