School Board: Use electronic devices in school and lose them

TAMPA — Students, consider this your warning: Beginning the first day of school, that cell phone better be off and out of sight — or else.

Parents, listen up, too. No one is going to excuse your kid for texting in class when you sent the first message.

"We see it, we take it" is the new mantra when it comes to cell phones and other electronic devices when schools are in session in Hillsborough.

"We're going to have to be really clear that this is a rule that applies to every student, every day, every time you walk onto campus," School Board member Candy Olson said.

School officials know they aren't going to win a popularity contest by cracking down on the palm-sized distractions. Never mind the escalating concerns about cheating, or the inappropriate use of photos. The tough stance is unlikely to make many students and parents happy.

Assistant superintendent for administration Lewis Brinson already has received e-mails from parents complaining that the rule amounts to a violation of their constitutional rights. (For the record, school officials say the phones in the front office are there for a reason. Parents who need to contact their children should use them.)

"The parents are the ones who are not hearing this message right now," School Board Chairwoman Jennifer Faliero said. "We have more education to do."

Under the new procedures, teachers are expected to confiscate cell phones when they see them. The device must be stored securely, and handed over to an administrator who will return it at the end of the day.

Brinson said the district in the past has made good on cell phones that go missing. He expects the district would continue to do so, noting that teachers must be careful with the increasingly expensive gadgets.

As for the student who has mastered the art of texting blind, with a hand on the phone in her pocket: "If they can see the text coming back, we're going to have to speak to the student," Brinson said.

Comments on this article

by Grade Clerk	Jul 18, 2008 11:03 AM
I love this rule, but the first ones to break it are the parents. I have a Jr. in H.S. and have never once since he was 12 and had his 1st cell contacted him on it while he was at school. Thats the office phones are for. I expect him to have it off.

by MarkInTO	Jul 18, 2008 11:00 AM
Seems to me that the best way to handle this would be to require all parents/students to sign a "no use" contract. Any violators should then be sent to the school office for ANY infractions. Teachers should NOT be responsible for confiscation.

by Think...	Jul 18, 2008 10:46 AM
Cells shouldn't be in class, but imagine the added stress this will put on teachers. If they REALLY enforce this, they will be waiting in a line at the end of everyday to turn them in. Unrealistic. Who wants to be held responsible?

by Cristina	Jul 17, 2008 8:11 AM
That is wonderful!. Now who is taking care of the teacher that get to abuse of their students class time by using class time to take personal calls? The abuse is big in the Elementary level where the children are getting robed of their education!

by Somebody	Jul 17, 2008 8:05 AM
@ rick & Ray: IMO, the kids should all be required to hand their cell phones to teachers as soon as they enter the classroom and reclaim them after. That way students have a phone in the halls during an em, while teachers will handle it in class.

by K	Jul 17, 2008 7:51 AM
Students need to concentrate on their education. Teachers need to be able to concentrate on teaching. Parents need to teach their kids to become adults capable of functioning on their own. At age 18, kids must be ready to take on adulthood.

by Chip	Jul 16, 2008 9:28 PM
Fortunately, I retired just as cell phones were becoming a nuisance. When teachers are forced to play policeman in the classroom to neutralize this nonsense, it completely takes away from instruction. Skeptical? Sign up to sub in any high school.

by cell phone police	Jul 16, 2008 7:18 PM
I am always taking away phones, and we in Hernando have had this policy for years. I hate cell phones in the classroom, but like Frustrated, I am not going to be held liable for a damaged/missing phone. The phone gets placed on my desk in full view.

by Teacher	Jul 16, 2008 7:15 PM
In my school there is a phone for the students in EVERY classroom. We can also be reached to give messages to students via email. I love this policy as it TAKES AWAY EXCUSES FOR BAD BEHAVIOR both from students and parents.

by rick	Jul 16, 2008 7:13 PM
oh come on ray,how did we live w/out them in a real er?no martians took the kids and disappeared.and you still don't need the phn in a shooting,the school/sro's are there to handle it.you're looking for the extreme example,odds don't favor you

by rick	Jul 16, 2008 7:13 PM
however,while i believe your idea is way over the top, i don't believe you can counter cultural trends.it hasn't worked yet(flip flops anyone). so unless you use a sig blocker you're wasting time&money.you can turn off the blocker in an er.

by Good Move	Jul 16, 2008 7:09 PM
I get it... Raul allows cell phones, so we don't.

by Watcher	Jul 16, 2008 4:09 PM
Faliero said her daughter texts her from school during lunch. Here's a link to a competing paper's article: http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/mar/28/na-students-call-for-compromise-on-cell-phones/

by Kelly	Jul 16, 2008 4:03 PM
This is a great idea, but now the offices need to make sure they are answering the phones. My sister had an emergency and could not get the office to pick up the phone. She tried calling the school for the 30 minute drive there and no answer

by J	Jul 16, 2008 3:36 PM
Hillborough teachers will need to keep track of the cellphones that they confiscate making sure they are not damaged, and find time to get them to an administrator who will return them to the student at the end of the day? The teachers are the losers

by teacherinpasco	Jul 16, 2008 3:06 PM
Johnin Pasco, I already confiscate cells and give back at end of day. 2nd offense, kid calls parent. 3rd offense parent has to come and get it at front office...works wonders when mommy is inconvenienced not the student.One guinea pig and that's all!

by SoberYankee	Jul 16, 2008 12:50 PM
We need more teachers like Shannon and less like Tom. Kudos Shannon! Tom, you're just lazy.

by Ralph	Jul 16, 2008 12:50 PM
A policy is useless unless it's enforced. However, I support the School Boards decision and hope parents understand that if your child needs to contact you during the day he/she can still do so.. in the front office like most of us did!

by KD	Jul 16, 2008 12:49 PM
Parents might consider calling the office phones if they felt confident that their child would get the message. It has been my experience in both my children's public high schools that the office staff is horribly rude and incompetent.

by John	Jul 16, 2008 12:49 PM
Yeah, this will be another selectively enforced rule. Good kids will have their phone taken away while gangsta' thug doesn't

by Dennis	Jul 16, 2008 12:49 PM
Nick...if there's an emergency the parents can contact the school, who will then notify the student. Schools worked just fine (in fact better) before there were any cell phones, and emergencies happened back then too.

by Sam	Jul 16, 2008 12:49 PM
Makes a lot of sense. It does say they get the phone back at the end of the day.

by Starfish	Jul 16, 2008 12:49 PM
I completely agree with this rule. When I was in high school I probably would have learned a lot more in my senior year math class if they would have taken my cell phone from me when I used it. Instead they just tell you to put it away.no punishment

by Gaston	Jul 16, 2008 12:49 PM
Good. Now the state should follow the Hillsborough Scool Boards lead and ban cell phone use in cars unless a hands-free device is being used.

by Randi	Jul 16, 2008 12:48 PM
Watcher, how does a board member get caught? THe policy was just approved last night. All parents text their kids and I believe Faliero is a single mom, that doesn't mean her daughter texted her back. Sounds like you have a personal issue w/Faliero.

by About Time	Jul 16, 2008 8:37 AM
Back in the day, we survived without cell phones, what in the world do you need to talk to a student for when you know their in school (learning). I suggest a cell phone blocker in all schools, then there will not be a problem.

by Ginger	Jul 16, 2008 8:33 AM
I disagree with Tom. It can be done and Pinellas should step up to the plate and demand the same from our students. It will only take a couple of days of phone loss and those phones will be out of sight.

by Nick	Jul 16, 2008 8:33 AM
The parents that don't want kids to have cell phones in schools are the same ones that are upset there is no way of contacting them in an emergency. Can't have it both ways

by pat	Jul 16, 2008 8:33 AM
Great idea, but is there an escalation of consequences for repeated offenses? Parents must retrieve 2nd time, hold for a week 3rd time? Otherwise not much punishment, just a minor inconvenience for students and a major headache for schools.

by A.H.	Jul 16, 2008 8:33 AM
It's about time. It's been written in the student handbook that they are not allowed, yet kids still use them. Enforce the rules, and they will learn!

by Shannon	Jul 16, 2008 8:33 AM
Tom, it's not impossible. I've confiscated cell phones for the past 4 years of my teaching career. My students expect it from me so it doesn't cause much of a disruption. Cell phones are used for cheating, inappropriate discussions, etc. It's awfu

by Tom	Jul 16, 2008 7:34 AM
As a Pinellas County Teacher, I wish them luck. It's impossible. There are way too many students, and not enough time in the day to teach and patrol for cell phones, dress code violations, etc... It is very very much so easier said than done.

by Watcher	Jul 16, 2008 7:34 AM
School Board Chairwoman Jennifer Faliero was caught texting her own daughter, who was at school at the time. Does this rule apply to her as well?

by Herb	Jul 16, 2008 7:33 AM
I have thought they should have done this long ago. Students and parents need to be reminded why they are at school to begin with. Violation of constitutional rights? I don't remember anything in our Constitution regarding a right to a cell phone!

by Paul	Jul 16, 2008 7:33 AM
Praise the lord finally someone with some brains running the schools. All the districts should follow this lead. There is no reason for the students to even have these phones at school let alone use them.