“I don’t understand what’s fueling such a strong response.”
Nikole Babb, nbabb@cherryroad.com
Parents of an El Dorado High School, (EHS), Senior are upset that their son will miss league competition over what they call an abuse of power for what started as a cell phone scenario.
It started on EHS Senior Duke Jensen’s last day of school – or what he thought would be his last day. On Wednesday as he sat in Band class, he took a few minutes to look at his phone, which put him in trouble with the band teacher, Zane Boone.
USD 490 implemented a new no cellphone policy for the 2024-2025 school year. In the Parent Student Handbook 24-25, Page 59, the policy states:
“Students may use their phones until 8:15 AM. At 8:15 AM, phones are to be put in their backpack. A 10-minute break will be given at 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM. Students may have their phones during their 30-minute lunch time. If student would need to use their phone during a time that is not a break time, they must get teacher permission.”
On Page 13 of the handbook under Behavior Expectation, it states a similar message:
“Cell Phone Guideline: To create an optimal learning environment, cell phones may not be used in the classroom. Students are welcome to use their phones during passing periods, before and after school, and during lunch. By the time the bell rings to start class, phones should be silenced and put away in a backpack, pocket, or other secure location. Smart watches should not be utilized for app usage, messaging, or other non-essential functions during class. AirPods and headphones are allowed at the teacher’s discretion.”
Using his phone without teacher permission is what got Duke is trouble on Wednesday. At his next class period, his phone was put into a secured pouch that locks it inside and was given back to Duke to hold until the end of the day. Although the pouch has a locking mechanism, Duke’s parents say that he’s reported it’s common among students to break into them without any harm to the pouch – a trick they learned on YouTube.
At the end of the day, the student’s who have their phone “pouched”, are to return the pouch to the front office or administration, who unlocks it for them and they are free to go. When Duke returned the pouch, his phone wasn’t in it, indicating to administration that he had taken it out. At a first glance, the person who first inspected the pouch said it wasn’t broken – and he was good to go. But at a second inspection, staff noted that the locking mechanism was broken, which they treated as vandalism of school property.
For breaking the pouch on his last day of school, Duke was given two days of in school suspension, (ISS), a $30 fee to replace the pouch, and due to the suspension, can no longer compete in league competition on Friday afternoon.
Duke competes in piano each year privately and through school as well as in track, which he always qualifies for regional and state competition for. He is part of two relay teams, which are made up of six other students.
“He doesn’t get in trouble often, he’s an A-B student and has competed each year at the state level,” said Jessican Jensen, Duke’s mother. “He’s very self-disciplined with a job he’s had for a year, he’s first chair in percussion. He’s an ambitious kid.”
When Jessica and her husband Wally found out about the consequences for Duke’s actions, they emailed every board member on USD 490’s Board of Education but never heard back. They had a phone call with EHS Principl Erin Nichols who said she isn’t budging on the consequences handed out.
The Handbook states under the Activities/Athletics – Disciplinary Action, page 8:
“Student NOT in Good Standing (Any student who is assigned out of school suspension, or expulsion) – A student “not in good standing” is ineligible for participation in any USD 490 activity for the duration of the discipline and until midnight on the last day of discipline.”
When USD 490 Superintendent Jenifer Davis heard about the situation and read the board’s emails, she sent an email to the Jensen’s in support of the administration’s actions that read:
“Duke’s choice to be on his phone is why he received the pouch; other students were also pouched yesterday, did not tamper with the device, returned the pouch intact, and were given no further consequence.
Duke received the suspension for his additional choices beyond cell phone use. When Duke received the pouch, he asked what would happen if he opened it and took out his phone; he was told at this time that doing so would result in additional consequences impacting graduation and good standing. In addition, Duke initially claimed the pouch opened on its own but later admitted to hitting the pouch until it came open to get his phone. Duke’s vandalism of the pouch has rendered it destroyed- the locking shaft is bent and the pouch will no longer remain continuously locked.
I support decisions by our EHS Administration and EHS coaches regarding suspension, graduation, and good standing. In addition, I appreciate that Duke has been given the option of in school suspension rather than the approved consequence of 1-3 days out of school suspension.
I understand these choices and the subsequent consequences may be disappointing; I am hopeful Duke makes decisions that allow him to participate in good standing after Friday.”
Duke also apologized to Ms. Nichols for the vandalism. If he had not served the ISS, he would be suspended from walking and participating in his graduation ceremony, after party, and possibly the rest of the track season.
In an interview with the Times-Gazette, USD 490 stated that it wasn’t the phone violation that gave him ISS – it was the vandalism. They couldn’t comment on any of Duke’s particular scenarios, behaviors or disciplinary history due to student privacy laws.
“I don’t understand what’s fueling such a strong response,” said Wally. “I just don’t get it. There’s no meat to any of this. Yeah, he was lippy. Yeah, he shouldn’t have been on his phone. And yeah, he should have been more respectful. But that’s why we apologize. He didn’t use profanity. He didn’t scream at people. He doesn’t have a history. He was a stupid teenager. He made a stupid mistake. And now they’re trying to make forever consequences from a little mistake.”
