By By KERRY WHIPPLE BEAN – Publisher
The Alabama Legislature this year lifted the state ban on cell phones at schools - but students at Brewton City Schools won't be text messaging during class anytime soon.
The school board Monday adopted new code of conduct and student handbook rules that only allow authorized use of cell phones during school hours.
In fact, elementary students will have to turn their phones in to the office during school hours, and middle and high school students will have to keep their phones in their lockers.
Students are encouraged not to bring cell phones to school, according to the policy.
The student code of conduct prevents the use of cell phones unless they are authorized.
Before and after school hours, students can use their phones if needed, he said.
Elementary school students will be required by the student handbook to turn off their cell phones before 7:55 a.m. and turn them in to the office. That policy will be reviewed if it becomes a problem, Smith said
High school students will be required to keep their phones in their lockers.
Smith said one of the things school officials want to prevent is theft of expensive phones.
But school officials also want to make sure no one is using the phones to cheat.
The new rules also apply to pagers and other electronic communication devices.