Lauderdale finds compromise in student cell phone war

Central High School senior Kelsie Gean clearly remembers the time last school year when her cell phone fell out of her purse, landing her in in-school suspension for a day.

The school district's anti-cell phone policy was hardly lenient when it came to having them at school.

Things are much different now, not just at Central School but at all Lauderdale County schools.

This school year, students can be seen using cell phones in the hallways between classes during breaks and in the cafeteria at lunch time. And there's no one telling them not to.

The Lauderdale County school board changed its policy on student cell phone usage this year to allow students the freedom to not only have them at school, but to use them at specified times during the school day.

Call it reverse psychology, student liberation or even preparation for the future. Whatever it is, it's working so far, according to Superintendent Billy Valentine.

"It's not practical to eliminate cell phones altogether," Valentine said. "There are situations where these kids are going to have to have cell phones and they'll be required to be responsible with them. We're trying this new policy to help them in their decision-making about when to use a cell phone.

"It really just mirrors what's often done in the workplace, where cell phones can only be used on breaks. Essentially, these kids in class are on their jobs, and in the hallways and at lunch they're on break."

Gean said she wishes that had been the policy last year.

"I'm just hoping they keep it up and don't go back to the old policy," she said. "Even the younger students have been pretty good about not abusing the privilege."

Lauderdale is the only area system with such a policy. While some districts have continued to tweak their policies regarding cell phone usage, they haven't given the go-ahead for students to use them during school hours.

In the Muscle Shoals district, students may have cell phones but they must remain off and out of sight while in the building during the school day. Penalties for cell phone violations range from having it taken away for the day, to in-school suspension to 10 days in alternative school for a fourth offense.

Florence Superintendent Kendy Behrends said her district's policy is based on an "out of sight, out of mind" rule.

"We don't authorize cell phone usage at school, but there's also not a zero tolerance policy regarding them, either," she said. "We try to keep these violations in proper perspective."

Valentine admits he was reluctant to go along with the policy change. But many of the principals in the district's 12 schools assured him they'd be willing to strictly enforce the new policy - meaning no cell phones used in class and extra vigilance regarding texting.

"We're reviewing the policy at the end of each trimester," he said, adding that he has sought teacher input this trimester on how the new policy is working.

"Every principal so far has said it's working better. A few teachers have had problems with students being late to class because they're trying to finish a conversation or texting. But overall, there are far less problems in the classroom, which was our chief concern."

Lauderdale County High School Principal Jay Stejskal said he's seen a renewed sense of responsibility from his student body since the new policy went into effect.

"Cell phone violations have been cut by 85 percent," he said. "It's amazing, really. And the violations we are having have been indirect violations like cell phones going off in a purse. Cell phones aren't going away, so we might as well not continue trying to fight this losing battle. At the first of the year I'd walk by students in the lunchroom and their first reaction was to try to hide their phones. It took some getting used to, for all of us."

Central Principal David Corl has a philosophy about students' reaction to the new policy.

"The novelty wears off of anything new," he said.

"The first of the year, I counted cell phones in the lunchroom one day. There were about 100 of them being used. The other day at lunch I counted four. Just goes to show that kids can be given some freedom and not abuse it."

Central Senior Megan Nelson said that even though she'll be out of school next year, her hope for the remaining students is that the policy doesn't change back.

"My fear is that once everyone gets used to it, they'll change it back," she said.

"All I can say is students better keep following the rules if they want to keep using cell phones at school."

Lisa Singleton-Rickman can be reached at 740-5735 or at lisa.singleton-rickman@TimesDaily.com.