Rules from high school and middle school adopted as policy
By Eileen Oldfield Staff Writer
A vote approving the second draft of a districtwide policy for cell phones, pagers, beepers, MP3 players, and other electronic devices in Hillsborough schools had board members buzzing at Monday’s Board of Education meeting.
The policy, which has not been instituted yet, would replace the guidelines individual schools have in place currently with a district-wide policy. According to Policy Committee Chairman David Kanaby, the policy would be completely new for the district.
”We developed the policy because cell phone abuse interfered with school,” said Mr. Kanaby. “The kids can have them, but they must be off during school.”
The policy draft passed at Monday’s meeting with only board member Frank Blandino voting against the policy, noting there’s no need for students to have phones during school.
”I don’t think phones have any place in an institute of education,” said Mr. Blandino. “I’m against having cell phones allowed in the building at all.”
Mr. Blandino said he agreed with part of the policy that allows pagers for kids or individuals who work in a medical capacity, however.
While other board members thought the phones were not educationally useful, they felt the phones were needed after school, particularly if a student needs to be picked up after an academic or sports event.
”I totally agree with you that it is not educational,” said board member and retired Hillsborough High School teacher Wolf Schneider. “However, there are certain circumstances where it is of value to have these kids have these cell phones, as long as they’re off during the day.”
Mr. Blandino expressed concern about enforcing the policy during school hours, and about opportunities for students to text message test answers during the day.
Guidelines for cell phone use were instituted in 2006; six high school students were suspended for using phones repeatedly during school hours after the guidelines were instituted. Under the high school’s guidelines, , students receive five demerits for their first phone-related incident, receive Saturday detention if they are caught a second time, and must serve a two-day in-school suspension after a third offense. Under the new policy, school officials would confiscate a device after seeing it used, and a parent would have to retrieve it from the principal’s office.
”We didn’t have them; they don’t need them just because society depends on them,” said Mr. Blandino. “Like me, I’m guilty, my life depends on this stupid thing.
”But you don’t need it in any school,” he said.

