School policies vary for cell-phone use

Policies for cell-phone use vary from school to school. Here's a cursory review of local guidelines:

Flathead High School

Kalispell administrators allow cell phones on campus but don't permit their use during classroom time. Any type of visual equipment is banned in locker rooms, bathrooms or private areas.

Bigfork

Bigfork school policy allows students to use cell phones, pagers and other electronic signaling devices only before and after school. Students also may use them during the lunch period. Any type of visual equipment is banned in locker rooms, bathrooms or private areas.

Whitefish

For several years, Whitefish has had a policy of no cell phones, pagers or beepers at school. If the devices are found, they're confiscated and returned to parents. Theft and privacy issues were key concerns that shaped Whitefish's policy.

Columbia Falls

The Columbia Falls school district also bans cell phones at school. The potential for interference in the classroom was the key reason mobile phones and other devices were banned about four years ago, but administrators say the ban also falls in line with the school's approach to the Safe and Drug Free Schools initiative.

Stillwater Christian School

Administrators allow the use of cell phones between classes, during lunch and before or after school, but school policy stipulates they're "not to be disruptive to any part of the school day." Use is limited to necessary purposes. Camera phones are not allowed on campus.