Local Schools Won't Limit Phone Use

Education officials recognized the value in reporting emergencies through the use of cell phones following the Columbine High School shooting and similar incidents. In September, California school districts became the most recent to change their use policy, following the leads of Maryland and Kentucky.

But Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools officials said they let individual schools set their own policies on student possession of cell phones in school.

Steve Scroggs, Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools assistant superintendent for support services, said students should be allowed to carry cell phones in school as long as they know when their use is appropriate.

"If kids use the things correctly, then nobody has a problem with them having phones in school," he said.

He added that as long as instruction is not disturbed and children don't abuse the privilege, they will be allowed to keep cell phones with them.

"Times have changed," Scroggs said. "As long as 30 phones don't go off in algebra class, it is OK."

There are no plans under way for the school board to set a district policy for the use of cell phones on school campuses, Scroggs said.

Unless cell phones become a problem, the policy will continue to be a part of the school's daily routine.

David Thaden, principal of East Chapel Hill High School, said students can use cell phones outside of the building during extracurricular activities.

"We allow students to have cell phones on campus but not ... inside the building," he said.

"Trying to police them after school became more of a hassle then it was worth."

The reason cell phones are now allowed on campus is because they are a good communication device between students and their home, Thaden said.

If cell phones ring in class, he said, the phones are confiscated and parents can pick them up after school.

Thaden said the school has not had any difficulties regarding this policy so far this year.

"Cell phones aren't a problem because people follow the rules," he said.

"We haven't confiscated more than three this year."

ECCHS PTSA President Jan Hendrickson-Smith said she supports allowing students to have cell phones on campus.

"It's a fairly reasonable policy," she said. "While I don't advocate every child having a cell phone, as long as kids use cell phones responsibly and are not abusing it, it's a good idea."

Although she said her children, a senior in high school and an eighth-grader, do not carry cell phones, she would consider allowing them to have one because of safety concerns.

"With the climate like it is and what happened last September, I like the idea of children having a cell phone in their backpack," Hendrickson-Smith said.

"Many parents want to be able to reach their children if necessary."

The City Editor can be reached at citydesk@unc.edu.