Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Cell phones not allowed at Nevada schools

Is a cell phone or pager an electronic communication device?

According to a recent opinion by Arkansas Attorney General Mark Pryor, cell phones and pagers can't be considered "electronic communication devices."

Rick McAfee, superintendent of the Nevada School District, dropped this piece of information on the Nevada School Board at its regular monthly meeting Thursday, June 19, when the board was discussing changes in the handbook for the 2003-2004 school year.

In the past, Nevada has had a policy prohibiting students from bringing cell phones into the school building. However, the Attorney General's ruling changed the "legal" status of cell phones, so they couldn't be included in school's policy handbooks.

Under the opinion, cell phones and pagers can be allowed in classrooms. McAfee said it wouldn't be much of a problem at Nevada because of the poor reception. However, he added, if the cellular tower at Bluff City is improved, it could be a problem then.

The district's attorney, McAfee said, suggested the district take the appropriate action and allow the phones and pagers to be carried.

The board approved the policy change, but immediately amended it, reverting to the district's former rule of no cell phones.

However, cell phones can be used at extracurricular activities.

In addition to dealing with cell phones and pagers, the board approved a new policy on bullying.

Bullying, under the policy, is defined as any pattern of behavior by a student, or group of students, that is intended to harass, intimidate, ridicule, humiliate or instill fear in another child or group of children.

Bullying behavior can be a threat of, or actual, physical harm or it can be verbal abuse of the child.

Bullying is a series of recurring actions committed over a period of time directed toward one student, or successive, separate actions directed against multiple students.

Examples of bullying given to the board include: non-verbal threats and/or intimidation such as "fronting" or "chesting" a person; blocking access to school property or facilities; stealing or hiding books or belongings; threat of harm to student(s), possessions or others; and mocking, taunting or belittling.

Students found guilty of bullying can be expelled from school under the policy.

In some instances, McAfee said, the bullying law passed by the legislature can be tied to sexual harassment.

He also said the court has ruled tattoos and piercings are "appropriate dress" for students and can't be prohibited.

However, McAfee said, while this may be difficult to stop legally, students with tattoos and piercings proving to be disruptive to the education process will be dealt with.

The board approved all policy and handbook changes. This had to be done before July 1.

Sandra Browning, the new principal at Nevada Elementary School, said NES is wrapping up this year and getting ready for next year.

Teachers have been working on testing and Title I qualifications, she said.

Browning was hired to replace Natalie Sherwood, who resigned at the May meeting to accept a job with the Malvern School District.

McAfee, in his report, said the district sustained $17,000 in damages from lighting because of the recent storms.

An insurance adjustor visited the district, assessed the damage and gave the school clearance to replace the damaged equipment.

The district's Title I funds, he said, were reduced from $139,000 to $135,000 because of the student census. Title programs are funded entirely based on student population, and the Nevada district has lost students.

In fact, McAfee said, the district will only have about 420 students in K-12 for the upcoming school year.

The district lost 16 students during the spring, had 38 graduate and only has a kindergarten class of 22.

The district received a grant for $14,820, which will be used to keep it drug free. The money, McAfee said, will be used to put on a two-day workshop for the teachers (who will get a stipend for attending) and to purchase materials on being drug free.

The workshop will be held in late July, he said.

The district had a $17,000 budget cut in May, but, McAfee said, he received a memo concerning an injunction filed to stop the state for withholding funds to school districts.

Now, he said, the state is calculating and trying to figure how much money to return to districts. "It won't be a lot, but it'll be something."

Prior to the injunction, he said, there had been rumors the state was about to make another cut in school funding before July 1.

Bonds for the district will be sold on July 8, after the voters approved the district to restructure its bonded indebtedness.

At this time, McAfee said, the interest rates are holding well, and the district may be able to cut three years or more from its payout.

In fact, he said, if the rates continue to hold, Nevada may be able to sell the bonds for less than 4 percent.