@brightlights: so if a teachers phone goes off in class can the students take it? lol

I guess no one has ever filed a police report, didn't the biebs get a charge for that a while back? has to be at least a class B misdemeanor.

Removed By Request

@ginx: looks like its legalWhen students in Abilene, Texas, return to class in six weeks they better not be caught using their cell phones.

No calls, no texting, no surfing the Web. If they slip up and are caught, they better be prepared to pay the price: confiscation of their cell phone until they pay a $15 fine. After the second offense, their parent must come in to pay the $15.

The fines are meant as a get-tough approach to what educators call an out-of-control use of phones and other mobile devices in the classroom. But in this economic downturn, the fees are bringing some much-needed revenue into the empty coffers of school districts.

Schools across the country have been cracking down on cell phone use but nowhere has that stance been stronger than in Texas where state regulations allow individual districts to confiscate the devices and charge up to $15 for their return.

Abilene is just one of the latest districts to toughen its stance. Across the state at the Klein Independent School District teachers have been confiscating cell phones and slapping students with the $15 fee for two years.

In that time, the district has collected $100,948 from students. That's right, $100,948 just from errant cell phone users.
abcnews.go.com/Busin ess/story?id=8074283

What made me more upset is the fact that the school would turn it over to HISD officers...they would not keep the phone there on campus...then I would have to take off work to go get it.

@mm4731
I didn't' see anywhere it said that it was legal, just that it was school district policies. 2nd amendment groups go after municipalities for unconstitutional laws restricting guns from public places, I bet this one goes away after a lawyer gets a hold of a case.Not that I have a dog in the race here, just rubs me the wrong way and seems like an egregious policy.

@ginx: it states Texas regulations allow individual districts to confiscate the devices and charge up to $15 for their return.

@mm4731
Yep you're right I see it now.

seems like common sense to me. Cell phones are major distraction at work - with responsible adults - can't imagine if teachers didn't have control over them - how hard it would be to teach - let alone the cheating that would occur - When I was in school - if you have banned items at school - you either got them back at semester end - or not at all - - - probably not popular options for expensive gadgets. either pay the fine - or teach your kid to follow rules. or if you think the rules shouldn't apply to your kid - take it up with the board - or Dr. Sconzo - his email / phone number are on the district site..My first thought when I heard the ignore no more app - was wow - this would be perfect for parents with kids in school that have a problem with phones when they shouldn't be having them out.perhaps if a person were to come up with a more effective way of enforcing cell phone rules at school - I am sure they could present that idea as well.... I understand even with the fine - and the parent having to take time off to retrieve the phone - some kids just don't learn.

@redneck roy: taking time out my day and having to pay $15 to get my kids phone back would net her a pager the rest of the year........they still sell those right?

^^^^ Yep - I agree - I paid the fine a couple of times....At first notion - it didn't seem right to me - but the more I thought about it - the more it makes sense - not that anyone should like it - but sometimes it is hard to get through to folks - and we as parents need to try to help the educators do their jobs where we can.... If our kids can't control their phones - they gotta learn the hard way.....

AHS has many after school activities that needs funding. I would like to see it given to those who can't afford it by scholarships. An accounting for those funds collected should be provided on AHS website.

I like the idea of a published accounting of the funds...that money comes directly from the pockets of the students/families, so why is it a big secret? They all seemed kind of shifty in the article when asked where all that money goes...my favorite was Aldine ISD:----Aldine Independent School District was the most difficult district to get answers from. When Local 2 asked for the information on Aug. 4, the district said it didn't know how much money each campus collected. Investigator Amy Davis questioned Superintendent Dr. Wanda Bamberg.Davis: "So then you've never asked for an accounting for how much money they've collected?"Bamberg: "No, we have not, because that money goes into the principal's fund."Bamberg said she wanted Local 2 to pay the district $1,890 to get a complete accounting of how the money was spent.Davis: "And you think that's reasonable?"Bamberg: "If I'm going to have clerical people the week before school starts stop what they're doing and research this information for you, it is reasonable. Thank you so much for coming out tonight. We appreciate it."----

I think that translates to kegerator in the teacher lounge ... And then some