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School board to review cell phone policy

Michelle Mann/mmann@eprisenow.comEnterprise 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.

By Michelle Mann
Published: July 01, 2009

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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.