Houston County Schools cracks down on student cell phones

By Jim Cook

Published: July 24, 2008

The Houston County Schools system is tightening its student cell phone policy, handing out stiffer punishments for those caught in possession of the phones at school.

Houston County forbids its students from having cell phones at school. This contrasts with a more liberal policy in the Dothan City Schools which allows students to have cell phones so long as they are kept turned off and out of sight during school hours.

Superintendent Tim Pitchford admits that he’s likely to hear some parent complaints about the tougher penalties.

“It doesn’t matter what I do or don’t do, I’m going to catch grief,” he said. “I just have to know that we’re doing what’s in the best interest of students’ ability to learn and graduate and become productive citizens.”

Houston County Schools’ policy made possession of a cell phone at school punishable by detention on the first offense. The Houston County Board of Education recently approved a new policy that increases the first-offense penalty to one day of suspension. Subsequent offenses can lead to longer periods of suspension.

Pitchford said the tougher policy was needed because students have been flouting current rules. According to Pitchford, cell phones at county schools have caused a large number of disturbances, including incidents where students were later arrested after being caught making and transmitting indecent material using their cell phone cameras.

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The Houston County Schools forbids students from having cell phones in its schools. Here’s the range of punishment:

First offense—One-day suspension.

Second offense—Three-day suspension.

Third offense—Five-day suspension.