Lake Orion School Board OKs Cell Phones in School

After much discussion Wednesday evening, Lake Orion Community Schools Board of Education members approved changes to the district's cell phone policy that allow students to leave their phones on vibrate or silent in the classrooms.

The board changed the policy in order to allow smart phones to be used in the classroom for instructional purposes. The original policy stated students could possess cell phones, electronic communication and electronic storage devices while in school, but the devices had to be turned off.

"(The students) really are digital natives," said Cliff DuPuy, technology and media services director for the district. "They’ve grown up on this."

The idea to started with a pilot program at Waldon Middle School last spring. DuPuy highlighted a couple of applications that teachers can use in the classroom, including a free website that teachers can use to poll students about certain topics. Students can text their responses to the survey, and the data is archived on the website.

DuPuy pointed out that this is a way for students who are not comfortable speaking in the classroom to participate anonymously.

Another application called Edmodo was described as a Facebook for education. Similar to the social networking website, students would create a profile and then receive information from the teachers such as a calendar events or posts about assignments.

When Board Member Connie Meech asked how students who do not have cell phones will participate, Heidi Kast, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, pointed out that the applications can also be accessed by computers.

"Students who do not have cell phones will not be left out of instruction," she said.

Before the programs are implemented in the classroom, the district will assemble a technology committee, which will create guidelines for the use of cell phones. Students who use their cell phones inappropriately will still receive consequences outlined the district handbook.

Once guidelines are established, the programs will be piloted in the middle school and high schools. In addition, teachers can volunteer to participate.

"This is not something that will be mandated or they will have to do," Kast said. "Teachers have the discretion to use cell phones to supplement their instruction."

Other districts in the state, including Novi Schools, are already using cell phones in the classroom, DuPuy said.

"I really strongly believe we have to engage our students and recognize the fact that they learn differently," Kast said. "We have to make sure they are prepared."

Meech was the only board member who opposed the policy revision. She explained that some students and parents cannot afford cell phones, or simply don’t want to use them.

"I don't want this to be indirect pressure for students and parents to have this expensive equipment," she said.

Also during Wednesday's meeting, the Board of Education:

• Approved a new three-year contract with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. There are about 250 employees in the district in the union, which includes support staff, custodians, and transportation, cafeteria and maintenance workers. The contract runs from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2013 and calls for a wage freeze in the first and second years and a 3 percent reduction in pay for the third year. In addition, the contract included concessions for health care benefits that total $957,000 a year in savings.
• Discussed the use of a reserve police officer to replace the police liaison position that will be eliminated at the high school at the end of the year. The district has discussed using the village reserve officer at minimal cost to provide services at the school. Since most of the schools are in Orion Township, the district has to have a mutual aid agreement with the township. The agreement will be discussed at the Nov. 7 township meeting.