A new SC State law is in place which will prohibit Legion Collegiate Academy (and all SC public and charter school) students from using their cell phones during the school day.
The following excerpt is directly from a recent South Carolina State Department of Education (SCDE) memo: “Per the FY 2024-25 Appropriations Act and Proviso 1.103 students in South Carolina’s public schools are not permitted to access their cell phones or any other personal electronic device during the school day.”
For the purposes of this proviso, the state has defined a personal electronic device as:
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“A personal electronic communication device is considered to be a device not authorized for classroom use by a student, utilized to access the Internet, wi-fi, or cellular telephone signals.”
Below are the details pertaining to the use of cell phones on campus:
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Cell phones should be turned off at the beginning of and throughout the school day and placed in book bags and out of visibility.
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Students may use their cell phones before the start of the school day and after the school day ends.
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Students may use their cell phones during after-school activities.
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Students may be asked to place their cellphones in teacher "pockets" to ensure compliance with SCDE Proviso 1.103
In the event you have an urgent matter that needs to be communicated to your child, please plan to contact the school office and we will make every effort to communicate the information to your child. Students also have access to school email accounts to which parents may send email messages.
All FY 2024-25 Provisos can be accessed at the South Carolina Department of Education website.
Visitor/School Safety Policy (policy updated July 2023)
Upon arrival at LCA, visitors must enter through the main entrance and be buzzed into the front office. All visitors will be asked to state their purpose and provide their driver’s license or state issued ID to a front office staff member. Individuals who do not follow this protocol, have no explicit purpose for being on school grounds, or cause a disruption (physical or verbal altercations with staff, students, parents, or other guests) will be notified they are trespassing and told to leave by school staff or the SRO.
Per Section 16-11-620 of the SC State Code, trespassers who do not leave upon request are subject to a $200 fine, arrest and imprisonment of up to 30 days.
Gavin's Law
Gavin's Law (
H.3583) is legislation that makes sexual extortion, the act of blackmailing someone using sexually explicit images or videos, a felony offense and an aggravated felony if the victim is a minor, vulnerable adult, or if the victim suffers bodily injury or death directly related to the crime. In 2022, 17-year-old Gavin Guffey was a victim of sexual extortion, resulting in him taking his own life.
https://ed.sc.gov/newsroom/strategic-engagement/gavins-law/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SYPoqJVW2s
Erin's Law
Erin’s Law is named after childhood sexual assault survivor, author, speaker and activist Erin Merryn, who is the founder and President of Erin’s Law, which is registered with the State of Illinois and the IRS as a 501 (c)(4) non-profit social welfare organization.
After Erin introduced the legislation in her home state of Illinois, the bill was named “Erin’s Law” after her by legislators and it has caught on nationwide. Illinois is the first state by law to mandate child sexual abuse prevention. Vermont state board of education required this in schools since 2009. As of January 2023 Erin’s Law has been passed in 38 states. Check out Erin’s interview on CNN from 2018.
https://www.cnn.com/videos/justice/2018/05/14/erin-merryn-erins-law-sexual-abuse-safety-education-paul-dnt.cnn
https://ed.sc.gov/instruction/standards/health-education/instructional-resources/
Non-Discrimination Policy
Legion Collegiate Academy (“LCA”), as required by Title IX of the Education amendments of 1972 and its corresponding regulations (“Title IX”), does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its education programs or activities. Title IX prohibits gender-based harassment, which may include acts of verbal, nonverbal, or physical aggression, intimidation, or hostility based on sex even if those acts do not involve conduct of a sexual nature. LCA prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of sex or gender in all of its programs and activities by its employees or students.
LCA will respond promptly to actual knowledge of sexual harassment in an education program or activity of LCA against a person in the United States in a manner that is not deliberately indifferent. The response will treat complainants and respondents equitably. Any allegations of inappropriate conduct of a sexual nature that fall outside of this policy will be handled consistent with other applicable Board policies, including the Student Code of Conduct.
Please send written complaints to:
Dave McDaniel, Coordinator Title IX
dmcdaniel@legionlancers.org
803-620-6040
3090 Long Meadow Road, Rock HIll, SC 29730
Mr. McDaniel will then assign the complaint to Legion Collegiate Academy investigators, who will research the case and present findings to the school decision maker. Those placing the complaint will receive decisions in writing from the decision maker once the process concludes.
