Some Utah educators say cell phones and other personal electronic devices are a serious disruption in the classroom, but Tooele County School District officials maintain they have the problem well in hand.

Cell phones in schools came to the fore again recently when state Rep. Sheryl Allen of Bountiful proposed legislation to require all Utah school districts to formulate a policy regulating the use of cell phones and electronic devices. Allen said she has heard from numerous school personnel that texting is a severe problem.

"Students do not need to be texting answers to tests or taking inappropriate pictures," Allen said.

While some states have a statewide policy on cell phones in classrooms, most require local districts to develop their own policies. The policies developed by school districts should keep cell phones from being a distraction and make sure they are not used to infringe on privacy. Consequences for inappropriate cell phone use should also be spelled out, Allen said.

Tooele County schools, however, are already ahead of Allen's legislation. The school district put a written policy on cell phone use into effect last year, according to Mike Johnsen, superintendent of the Tooele County School District.

The policy varies depending on the grade level of the student. In all grades, the use of cell phones in classrooms, locker rooms, restrooms and shower facilities is prohibited. In elementary and junior high schools, cell phone use is only permitted before or after school. Cell phones are to be stored out of sight with the power off.

In the high schools, cell phones may be used between classes and during the lunch break, as long as they do not create a distraction or cause the student to be late to class.

School policy also bans the use of the camera function on phones on school premises or at school activities.

Consequences for violating the district's cell phone policy are determined by each school. At Tooele High School when the policy is violated the phone is confiscated and must be picked up by a parent, said Kendall Topham, Tooele High School Principal.

"We really don't have a big problem with cell phones," said Topham. "Students and parents both understand and follow the policy."

Johnsen agrees with Topham that the policy is, by and large, working.

"Policing phone use is difficult and we will probably never totally eliminate it," Johnsen said. "But our policy was recently reviewed by the school board and appears to be working."

Tim Gillie: tgillie@tooeletranscript.com