We are getting away from ourselves here. The simple facts are thus 1) there is a rule to have no cellphones in school 2) the principal is enforcing that rule by ensuring that the rule has been adhered to. PERIOD. It makes no difference if ANYONE went OTD here – we are talking about a RULE in school and how it is followed and how the principal follows up on it. There are no Constitutional rights of illegal search and seizure issues, here. This is a PRIVATE school. Only those who do not follow the rule need have any anxiety about being checked for “contraband.”
And it is not a case of whether the phone is good or bad for a student. Even if it is the best thing in the world (like non-Jews like to portray chazir and lobster), it is still assur to have it. Our kids are very much spoiled nowadays with all the naarishkeiten that they believe is so necessary for their existence – and that is OUR fault for giving it to them, in the first place. We got along just fine without these kuntzim, and it is time for them to do so, as well. At least while they are in school, anyway. Because THAT is the rule.