By Stephanie Warsmith
The Akron Board of Education is expected to put a proposal to completely ban cellular phones on hold this evening.
Board member Shelia Smith plans to recommend that the board wait until its Jan. 22 meeting to vote on the policy. She wants to get more input from principals and assistant principals.
``I don't want to vote on this too quick and have something out there that will not be effective,'' Smith said. ``The bottom line for me is to have something the field administrators can live with.''
Smith recommended last month that the board adopt a policy prohibiting students from having cell phones, pagers or other electronic devices at school. The board was expected to vote on the proposal this evening.
Some board members think a total ban goes too far and that the district should permit students to have -- but not use -- cell phones during the day. This is the approach that many districts locally and statewide have adopted.
Since 1998, Akron students have been prohibited from using cell phones, pagers and other electronic devices during the school day, but they can have them. If a device is being used, school personnel can confiscate it and notify parents.
Earlier this year, a group of principals and assistant principals recommended the board ban cell-phone possession at school. They were concerned about cell phones being used to cheat and causing disruptions in class.
The Rev. Curtis Walker, the outgoing president of the board, said he thinks it's too bad that the board had to take up this issue in the first place.
``People should know that you don't use phones in school,'' said Walker, who has served as president for the past year. ``That's phone etiquette.''
Walker will be replaced during the board's election today. Linda Kersker, the current vice president and the board's most senior member, will likely take over the top post. Linda Omobien, the member with the second-most experience, is expected to be elected vice president.
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