By John Cody Treadaway, Pine Whispers

After Art Paschal retired as principal of Reynolds High School, Assistant Principal David Small took his place during the search for a full-time replacement over the summer. While in the interim principal role, Small made some changes for the new school year, including loosening school policies on cell phone usage during school hours.

With the new policy, students can now use their phones in between classes and even during class – as long as the teacher of the class allows usage of an electronic device.

“More people were involved than just me. We weighed pros and cons and decided to make the new policies,” Small said. “We need to be forward thinking. I found that there were more faculty members in support of it than I thought there would be. The majority of the faculty and staff approved.”

Math teacher Allison George is one of those teachers.

“I think allowing students to check their phones between classes will make it easier to deal with phones in the classroom,” she said.

The new policy allows each teacher to determine whether or not students can use electronic devices in their own class. George hopes there will be fewer incidents with students texting in class.

“I think accepting phones as a part of our students’ lives is a move forward,” she said. “Also, I’m excited about finding ways to use the phones in class.”

Senior Miguel Urbano also believes that phones can be used as learning tools.

“Two of my teachers let me use my phone during class,” Urbano said. “There will be fewer incidents with students texting in class when they shouldn’t with the new policies in place.”

Junior Samuel Booth, however, has a different point of view.

“I approve of the new policies somewhat, but it really opens up the opportunity for students to cheat on tests and stuff,” he said. “Phones have the potential to be learning tools, but only one or two of my teachers actually allow us to use our phones.”

If the new policy is abused by students or becomes problematic for teachers to monitor, then new Principal Pat Olsen may have to revisit the technology issue, even if the summer’s change seems to have been made for all the right reasons.