Schools loosen cell phone rules

CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Cleveland City and Bradley County students will find new policies in place for cell phones and other technology on campus when they head back to class next week.

School leaders in both systems over the summer agreed that cell phones may be a fact of life, but they shouldn’t disrupt the school day with sudden chimes, bells, ringtones or music.

Cleveland school board members recently adopted a policy saying that students’ personal communications devices can’t be visible, audible or used during regular school hours. Inappropriate uses, including videotaping or sending bullying text messages, may draw down disciplinary action, they said.

That’s a change from prior policy, which banned personal communication devices in school buildings during regular school hours, including 30 minutes before and after school.

“We wanted them to be able to use them after school because they need to call parents for rides. That’s the first thing kids want to do. That’s the first thing as a parent I would want my kids to do,” said Cleveland High School principal Autumn O’Bryan.

Bradley County school board members have a similar policy.

“It is important that we make it very clear that we want to embrace technology in the Bradley County School System,” board member Christy Critchfield said at a recent board meeting.

The county school system views cell phones, iPods and computers, as an integral part of a 21st century classroom.

County students can possess the devices on school property “but are expected to use them responsibly,” according to the policy. “There are times when such devices should and will be restricted or prohibited.”

“It is tremendous what we can gain from technology that we do not purchase,” Mrs. Critchfield said. “We definitely want those teachers to have the know-how and training to use those devices if they can. This is where we are headed, and we need to embrace it.”