posted July 17, 2008
County school officials are wrestling with how to regulate cell phones at the middle and high schools.
Rick Smith, deputy superintendent, said one proposal is to take a student's cell phone for 10 days on the first infraction. It would be taken for 20 days on the second infraction. If it is taken up a third time, then the schools hold onto the phone until the end of the school year.
However, board member Joe Conner said cell phones can serve a valuable purpose at school.
He told of calling his daughter when a tornado was approaching her school in Ooltewah. He said she was in a hallway when she answered.
Chip Baker, another board member, said he keeps up with his children by texting them on their cell phone.
He suggested that cell phones be placed in a basket until the end of the day if a problem arises.
Board member Jeff Wilson said if a parent comes to school asking for return of a cell phone they are paying for it would "not be good public relations" to refuse to hand it over.
Mr. Conner said students sometimes use cell phones to alert an SRO or police to a problem at school.
However, board member Rhonda Thurman, who oversees the school discipline committee, said some students use cell phones to alert others where the SRO or administrators are stationed in a building.
She said some students also cheat on tests by texting answers to one another.
Deputy Supt. Smith said one thing principals agree on is there should be uniformity in the cell phone rules from school to school.
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