Proposed policy: Place cell phones in lockers
BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer
Prepare to say farewell to text-messaging friends about the latest gossip during the school day. The Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education has introduced a policy that will, if enacted upon final reading, prohibit students from keeping cell phones on their person during the academic day.

The revised policy, which was introduced at the board's July 28 meeting held in Englishtown, would still permit students to bring their cell phones and other remotely activated or activating communication devices to school, but would require the devices to be secured in their lockers.

According to the terminology of the policy, remotely activated or activating communication devices are defined as portable two-way telecommunications devices, including but not limited to cell phones with or without camera option, beepers, walkie talkies, iPods and other hand-held computing devices. Electronic devices capable of storing and transmitting or receiving images, like a camera, and any new technology developed for similar purposes also fall under this policy.

FRHSD Superintendent of Schools James Wasser described an ongoing problem that has developed as cell phone use among students has increased in recent years. After discussing the matter with the district's six principals, Wasser said a common thread was the loss of instructional time as a result of students' cell phones going off during class.

There have also been incidents reported of students cheating on tests by using camera phones, drug deals being arranged through the use of text messaging, and situations involving pornography, harassment and bullying, he said.

Wasser said that short of banning cell phones from school — a move which he acknowledged would lead to a hue and cry from parents and students — requiring them to be stored in lockers during the school day is the best alternative available.

According to the proposed policy, students will be responsible for storing cell phones in their assigned hall locker during the instructional day, which officially begins with the bell for homeroom and includes lunch breaks, class changes and study halls. The devices may not be on a student's person, including pockets, purses and book bags. Any student found to be violating the policy would be subject to disciplinary action and confiscation of the device.

In the case of a student who may be an active member of a volunteer organization such as a fire company or first aid squad, the student would be allowed to keep his phone on his person during the day, but would only be permitted to use it as part of his responsibilities to the volunteer organization. Documentation from the emergency organization's chief executive officer would be required to meet this condition.

A few parents who were present at the July 28 board meeting expressed concern about the possible theft of students' cell phones from the lockers. One mother said restricting cell phones to lockers could increase the number of locker thefts that currently occur in the district's schools. She asked the board how the issue of locker thefts would be addressed.

Wasser suggested that students could be educated to take precautions with their locker's security. He explained that it is a common occurrence for students to overfill their lockers, which does not allow for the lock to hold. Some students have a habit of dialing the first two digits of the combination into the lock and leave the dial close to their third digit in order to save time when they go to their locker between classes, Wasser said.

The cell phone policy is expected to have a second reading and public hearing at a future meeting.