Sylvania schools to allow more use of electronic devices

Sylvania Schools Superintendent Brad Rieger plans to ask board members in two weeks to approve a newly revised electronic devices policy for the 2012-2013 school year that will “give additional flexibility for students and staff.” The changes will only impact students at the high school level, Mr. Rieger said at a school board meeting tonight.

The policy change will be before board members at their next meeting, June 28.

If approved, the new policy would include the usage of cell phones, laptops, iPads, iPods and e-book reader devices. With the changes, students would be able to use these electronic devices before and after school, during class change times, during the lunch hour and with a teacher’s permission only, in the classroom.

Under the current policy for cell phones and electronic communication devices, students are allowed to bring a cell phone to school, but it must remain off and stored out of sight during the school day. Students are also not permitted to use an electronic device to take photos or voice recordings of classmates.

Under the new policy, students would still not be allowed to make or receive calls from their electronic devices.

No changes will be made to the current elementary and junior high electronic device policies.

The Perrysburg school board recently tweaked a new policy on electronic devices that would forbid elementary school students from using their electronic devices during lunch, which was previously allowed. Junior high and high school students are still allowed to use their gadgets during lunch and after school, and high schoolers can also pull them out in between classes.

The Perrysburg board is expected to vote on the policy change at a June 18 meeting.

Also at its board meeting tonight:

A motion was passed, 5-0, to recall four teachers from layoff, effective August 21, for the 2012-2013 school year, and approved the employment of eight new teachers for the 2012-2013 school year. Board members said the recently laid-off teachers were on a call back list as jobs became available again.

The board approved a contract with Republic Services of Toledo for refuse collection and disposal. The contract will cost the district $110,693 for three years.

The board accepted a proposal from Atlas Paving LLC, for paving improvements to Sylvan Elementary School. The improvements will include installation of separate lanes for student drop-off and parent pick-up.