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Schools

Lifting Student Cellphone Ban Doesn't Ring True For All School Board Members

Rivera doesn't like idea of hallway use between classes.

The is poised to allow high school students to use cellphones between classes, during lunch and under teacher supervision.

But not all members are keen on the overall policy revision under review.

Kim Rivera told her colleagues Tuesday that she sees problems allowing cellphone use in hallways between classes.

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“We already have kids who don't get to class on time,” she said. “This would just add one more thing they're going to struggle with to get to class on time.”

And she added, “Who do they have to call between classes?” To which another board member joked, “The kid standing next to them.”

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At present, all cellphone use is banned in Bensalem public schools.

Earlier this month, school board members Yagnesh Choksi and Chester Marshall told their colleagues the instructional affairs committee had heard a presentation from 9th Grade Assistant Principal Steve Louella and came away believing it's time to make a change. Part of that change, Marshall and Superintendent David Baugh had suggested, might be allowing students to use cellphones in class to access the Internet when appropriate.

Rivera said Tuesday that she was under the impression the entire school board would get to see Louella's presentation before making a decision.

Marshall has said the current policy is unenforceable, and resulted in many out-of-school suspensions last year, which is counter to the district's educational mission.

Dr. Baugh added Tuesday that there were more than 400 cellphone-related incidents last year among the freshman class alone. And he said reducing suspensions is a goal that would be monitored. If improvement isn't seen, he said, “We can always revert back” to the ban.

In response to Rivera's specific concern, he said students would still be required to get to class on time.

“It's a way of teaching proper etiquette,” he said. “We're not ceding ground on accountability.”

School board member Ralph Douglass added, “With every right comes a corresponding responsibility.”

But Rivera and colleague Kathleen Lesnevec said they are also concerned with students taking inappropriate photos with their cellphones including those of tests that they could share with other students.

Baugh said cellphones are a “national phenomena” that needs be addressed in the school setting, and that the Morrisville and Pennsbury district have adopted a similar policy change.

A vote on the issue could occur as early as the board's next meeting, Oct. 12.

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