BY TOM FONTANA
Correspondent

Some students taking certain subjects at Susquehanna High School may be allowed to bring electronic devices to classes this fall.

District superintendent Bronson Stone told district directors at their meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 18, that a ‘BYOD’ (Bring Your Own Devices) policy is being formulated for the 2015-16 school year.

“This initiative would allow students to bring their own technology to specified classes for educational purposes,” Stone explained. “Similar policies in other school districts are being reviewed.”

The district’s current policy bans all personal electronic devices from classrooms during the school day.

“Right now, if they bring devices, most commonly cell phones, to school,” Stone told the Independent, “the electronics must go into their locker turned off when they get to school and stay there for the entire day.”

According to Stone, the ‘pilot’ program would only be in affect for four subjects in four grades. “When we have the class schedules for the fall semester,” he said, “then we will determine which subjects will allow the use of personal technology.”

He added that students would be notified by the teacher a week in advance that on a certain day they could bring their own cell phones, tablets or laptop computers to class to use for a planned academic activity.

Stone also told the board that the district is working to establish a ‘tweet’ account to transmit announcements of delays and closings for anyone who receives those messages on mobile electronic devices.

The board approved hiring architect E.D. Pons and Associates of Wilkes-Barre, at a cost of $6,310, to create a plan for improvements to the high school bell tower and a retaining wall, and compile specifications to advertise for contractor bids on the project.

Stone said a plan would call for the top half of the bell tower to be removed, and the bell installed at another location, possibly near the athletic field. He added that the retaining wall would be rebuilt to replace its bluestone construction. All of this work would be done in the summer.

Kathleen Hinkley, president of the Susquehanna Community Education Assoc., announced the association’s student scholarship fundraiser, The Pampered Chef Bingo, will be held on Sunday, March 1. Tickets are $20 presale, $25 at the door, and available from district teachers or by calling Hinkley at 570-853-4921, ext. 1239. Prizes are The Pampered Chef cooking items worth $50 or more each. Refreshments will also be sold.

High school principal Carmella Bullick informed the board that the drama club will present its spring musical, “The Music Man,” on Friday and Saturday, March 13 and 14.