County schools eye cell phone ban

Pittsylvania County public schools are trying to develop an acceptable cell phone and electronic devices policy for students.

County high school principals asked the school board to ban cell phones during a meeting earlier in the week.

The school system is looking at a policy change where students would be required to keep a cell phone locked in a car or locker during the school day.

Superintendent James McDaniel said, “The concern of principals is to try to manage cell phone use in the high schools and middle school.”

Danville Public Schools Superintendent Sue Davis said middle and high school students may have cell phones at school, but may not turn them on or use them during the school day or on the school bus. Student cell phones must be turned off and left in either a locker or car or kept out of sight in a purse or book bag.

Elementary school students may not have cell phones on school property or on a school bus.

County school board members understand that students need to be able to reach family members in case of an emergency or after school if they miss a bus or because of an activity.

McDaniel said board members don’t want cell phones to be a distraction from the academic environment.

Whatever policy is put forth, school board members told McDaniel they want it enforced consistently. They want few exceptions to the

rule.

School officials will be meeting next week to talk about options, but if changes are recommended, they will be discussed at the Oct. 14 school board meeting.

“We want to try to work with our students and school administration to teach responsibility and accountability to our students,” McDaniel said. “We want to help them to be successful students …”

The current policy adopted on Aug. 14, 2007, calls for confiscation of the device for unauthorized use. The device will only be returned to a parent.

McDaniel stressed the school system is not against cell phone use, but it wants to control it so it doesn’t interfere with classroom instruction.

“We have to draw a balancing act here,” McDaniel said.

Danville has disciplinary actions for cell phone use, Davis said. On the first offense, the cell phone is confiscated and there’s a conference with the parent.

There’s a two-day in-school suspension on the second offense, along with the phone being confiscated and another parent conference.

The third offense results in a three-day out-of-school suspension, a parent conference and the phone being confiscated.

The fourth offense brings the other actions into play along with a five-day suspension.

The fifth offense results in a recommendation for long-term suspension.

• Contact Bernard Baker at bbaker@registerbee.com or (434) 791-7986.