I think that students should be allowed to use their cell phones during lunch. If teachers are permitted to use their cell phones I don't understand why students can't. I also don't understand why they aren't allowed to use their cell phones on the bus. Kids talk on the buses so what does it matter who they are talking to; the friend a few rows away or someone on the other end of the phone.

I don't see the need for a student to make phone calls during the school day, but I don't have a problem with checking text messages and replying to them between classes. If there is a real need to make a call, they can go to the office and clear it before making the call. To that end, I think that you can police things by simply not permitting the phone to be at the ear, or out in the class rooms. At least at the high school level, where the kids have the responsibility to manage their time to get to class, etc. I think the middle school and elementary school policies should remain unchanged.

Are you nuts! With all the access to technology these kids already have and all the social problems with Facebook, Twitter, text etc., why would the BOE and principals even consider cell phone usage. No need for it at all. Nothing is that important that it can't wait until after school, and if it is, here's an idea tell your kid to go to the guidance counselor, office, nurse whatever..... there are phones there people!.

Not sure if any of you have kids engaged in high school sports, but a total ban on cell use would be disastrous. Practice times change or get cancelled.....game locations get moved.....jersey colors get changed....and, God forbid....kids forget things occasionally no matter how responsible they are! I like it that the Board is leaving decisions like these up to their professionals on the ground. Gary Lewis

I totally agree with Francine. It would worry me even more to know that my grandchild has a cell phone where others could contact him for things that are not school-related. There are many other sources for phone use if it becomes necessary for a child to contact home. Just my opinion!!!

Also, you can see from the votes above that many agree with Francine and me. It is dangerous, as far as I am concerned.

Totally get that with the sports, yes I have kids involved in sports too. However, I still believe they can check the phone after school or during lunch if necessary. What you mention is actually a problem with the adults getting schedules etc straight (what I call back office admin). I think it's a shame that the adults involved, with the sports especially, do that crap and push their challenges onto the kids, but that's a whole different topic. I still don't like kids and cell phones at school.

I was basing my opinion under the assumption that the child already has a phone. So much of the concern I see above can happen just as easily after school and in the evenings. I am certain that at the high school, kids have their phones in their lockers and check between classes for text messages. If your kid forgets his/her lunch at the HS, the only way to let them know it's there is via text message, as the office is too busy to track down the students during the day. To get detention for a quick check of messages on your phone is not going to improve education or police the use of phones by the kids. The way we communicate is changing so it makes sense for our policies to consider these changes and take appropriate steps.

I am sure the kids use their phones all the time, rules or no rules.

When my youngest son was in elementary school, he had a teacher that would give them busy work and sit in the back of the classroom on her cell phone planning her wedding. SHE should have had her phone taken away. High school students aren't constantly talking on their phones during the day. I have no problem with them making calls checking text messages or sending text messages during their lunch period. Sometimes they need to get a message to their parents about something going on after school. It would be more disruptive to make them go down to the office. Besides, how are they going to send a parent a text from an office phone?

Let's get a (former) student's perspective on the topic, shall we? I graduated last year, and am now a college freshman at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Let's do a quick comparison: MTHS - Cell phones were outlawed. Once during a bomb threat, I was scolded for texting my parents as to the current situation. The district hadn't yet notified them. I ended up (winning) a verbal confrontation with a faculty member in order to use my phone. RIT - There was a gun scare last year on campus, students knew before faculty because they had their phones out in class. I have professors that ENCOURAGE cell phones to be on vibrate in class in case of emergency. SUMMARY: The district's policy needed to be updated five years ago. In today's world we need to be in communication with the outside world, and we have the tools to do it. Kids shouldn't be using the phones during class time, but hallways and lunch are A O.K.