School board to review cell phone policy
Michelle Mann/mmann@eprisenow.com
Michelle Mann/mmann@eprisenow.com
Enterprise City Schools Superintendent Dr. Jim Reese,left, discusses a proposed amendment to the cell phone policy at a city board of education meeting Tuesday as board Vice President Terri Averett looks on.
A proposed amendment to students’ cell phone use during school hours may be voted on by Enterprise Board of Education members July 30.
Superintendent Jim Reese asked board members Tuesday evening to review the proposed amendment and said the measure updates the current policy.
“More students possess cell phones now and more and more problems are developing because students are texting during class,” said Reese. “The secondary schools’ principals are reporting disruption to the education process.”
On May 30, 2006, state legislation was passed requiring all Alabama schools to have a cell phone policy. The current policy states “in essence, that students can have cell phones, but they cannot be visible,” he said.
If passed, the proposed change would allow students to carry cell phones into school, but would require them to be kept in the student’s locker in schools that have lockers. The words “that have lockers,” Reese said, are required because, for at least one more year, Enterprise High School students will be attending classes at the Enterprise Ozark Community College campus as they have since their school was destroyed by a 2007 tornado. Passing the amendment with the words “that have lockers,” is being proactive in anticipation of moving into the new school building, Reese said.
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I say let them have their cell phones as school. Why in the world should we force any child to abide by rules set my society. By george let them text driving down the roads at 80mph (no need to require them to go the speed limit). Like businessmen they should have their cells whereever they go that way since they are not going to learn anything in school they can at least act like the businessman that if they had gotten an education they may have could have been. And I know god forbid if their was ever a Columbine here all these cell phones could be used to call parents who will rush to the scene create chaos and probably add to the body count by being harms way. Lets just pass a government law that require all children to do as they please and force all these parents to accept this. Wait I think the parents already do this 
Pray for us because if this keeps up we’ll need all the help we can get…...
Whatever did we do before cell phones??? I watched a film about cheating in schools (it was revealing and scary), and it showed statistics as to how many students cheat by texting on their cell phones.
I still have to say that I prefer that my children have access to their own cell phone. We have developed this technology to communicate and I as a parent feel much better when I know that I can immediately dial a number and speak with my sons or leave them a message to be retrieved when they are not in the middle of class. Isn’t this what businessmen do as well, check their messages between meetings? I feel that the school committee, if they develop a policy that does not allow kids to have their cells on their person (and turned off) will be forcing some parents to tell their children to disregard the rules and regulations published by the school department. How would a shool committee member feel if they were told that they had to leave their cell phones in a locker when at their place of business or when involved in school business? I can not rely on a teacher or school official to provide communications for my children. In todays world, it is near impossible to be sure of the character of people employed in the education field, and my children mean just a little too much for me to trust anyone but them and myself. It has become a dangerous place for small people and whatever advantage we can give them for their safety, we need to allow them to have.
I would agree with the school board that cell phones should be in the student lockers and be turned off. I work in the the school system and I see how the students use their phones during class.
1. They text while their phones are in their pockets/purses. All without looking.
During the tornado, kids were able to contact their parents with the teachers phones.
2. During break/lunch kids are found texting in the restrooms.
3. During the day parents call/text their children. I am sure the parents know that at 9:00 a.m. kids are in class.
4. Parents can send a message through the front office. If it is an emergency, they will page the child in class. Or if it is just a change in pick-up plans they will be told to go to the office to get their message.
5. Teachers have school issued phones/walkies-talkies, so if a Columbine situation or other drastic situation occurs kids can be rescued.
The truth of the matter is that emergencies are few and far between. The disaster that hit our schools two years ago was unique in that it was the first time since 1991 that a tornado ended the life of a student in the entire United States while school was in session. If parents were to check the detailed invoice on the cell phone usage of their children they would know that the kids are arranging food pick-ups and socializing and not in an emergency situation. Parents can call the main office of the school if a true emergency appears as well and the students are free to check out with permission of the parents.
Well, the parent portion of this issue was not stated directly but was insinuated. The parents must make it known to their children that misuse of a cell phone or breaking the policy will result in the loss of the priviledge to carry the cell during school hours. And yes, I do agree that the parents are the first line of ensuring that the policy is followed. I must say though that it will be the parents who tell their children to bend the policy if children are told to leave their phones in a locker in the school. Is this what the school committee is trying to do, cause the children to break the policy because their parents want them to have access to a cell phone in case of any emergency? Our school board needs to take a long hard look at this subject before jumping to a conclusion and forcing students and parents to go against the policy.
It seems to me that the responsibility of a student having a cell phone lies more with the parents than with the school board. If a child has the privilge of owning a cell phone he/she should be responsible enough to abide by the policies set by school adminstrators. If the student can’t do that, then it is time the parent took control of the situation. I remember very well what would have happened to me should I have violated school policies and it was reported to my parents. Enough said???
I agree. My son keeps his cell phone in his pants pocket, turned off. After Columbine I knew I would always provide my children with a phone. What purpose does it serve if it is in a locker? Strict enforcement of a phone policy while allowing the child to have it on his/her person is the best solution to me. We live in a different world from when we were kids. In the event of an emergency our children should be able to reach us. I hope the school board will consider this but my child will have the phone on his person no matter what.
I have to wonder about this policy after the 2007 disaster and do we want our children’s cell phones in their lockers if they need to contact someone outside of the school as was required when the tornado took out our High School? I wonder if a policy of keeping the cell phone switched off but on your person is not a better policy to follow? This policy can be regulated with suspension of cell phone priviledges if it is not followed. I would feel much better if something were to happen and I was capable of contacting my child and knowing he was alright rather than me calling a phone that was stuck in a wall locker and turned off. Or worse yet, if a child enters a building to retrieve a cell phone when the building is not safe due to a natural disaster of some sort. I think our school board should reconsider this policy as it is one that will affect not only the teachers and staff at the school, but also the student and parents that are affiliated with the Enterprise School District.
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