Schools will not allow cell phones

At its meeting last Thursday, although they took no action, the Escambia County (Ala.) Board of Education heard as Superintendent Michele Collier said this coming fall, the school system will crack down on its policy to not allow cell phones in the schools, citing the drop in discipline problems since Escambia County Middle School has recently led the way.

"It has made a phenomenal difference," said one school official. "We were literally having to work two, three, four five situations a week with up to 10 or 12 kids involved in these tech screens and chat rooms, that were negative, where they...