SPRINGFIELD Schools address nuisance problems
This fall, all cells may have to be off during classes, or even left in lockers.
By VIRGINIA ROSS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW MIDDLETOWN -- Cell phones and household pets have become hot topics at Springfield School District.
At a recent school board meeting administrators explained some cell phones and household pets are becoming a nuisance at Springfield. They said they are addressing both subjects in the new student handbooks to be distributed to pupils and their parents when school starts up again this fall.
High school Principal Anthony DeFelice told school board members pupils can easily use their cell phones to text-message test answers to their classmates during exams. So, this fall he wants to require that all cell phones be turned off during classes, limiting their use to before and after school.
& quot;Our students are very busy, and we realize this, & quot; he said. & quot;We don't want to cut them off completely from their parents and anyone else trying to make important calls to them. & quot;
But the cell phones are becoming more and more disruptive, so administrators need to look at limiting their use, he said.
If students can't comply with turning their phones off during class, the district may look at requiring individuals to keep their phones in their lockers through the school day, DeFelice said.
Pet peeves
Meanwhile, elementary school principal Thomas Yazvac is asking his pupils to leave their pets at home. He said bringing pets to school for show and tell has become increasingly popular. But many pupils are allergic to the animals and school officials are left to clean up after the pets.
"It's becoming a bigger and bigger issue, and it's becoming more difficult to deal with, & quot; he said. "There might be special exceptions, but for the most part, the pets need to stay home. & quot;
School board members are reviewing the proposed policies, which are included in the district's revised handbooks, and plan to vote on whether to approve the handbooks at their monthly meeting in July.