BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – On the first day of school, the superintendent of Brevard Public Schools addressed new policies this year including stricter rules for students and their phones.
For the third time as superintendent, Dr. Mark Rendell greeted bus drivers and students, starting at 6 a.m. at a bus depot in Titusville and then before the first bell at Pinewood Elementary in Mims.
When the bus routes started Monday, the district began a new program to protect students by penalizing drivers who go around buses as students are getting on and off their buses.
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“If a driver drives past a stopped school bus, they’re gonna be recorded and they’re gonna be issued a ticket,” Rendell said.
After a five week grace period to start the new year, the ticket will be $250.
“The whole goal is to make sure our students can get on and off the bus, safely,” Rendell said. “The $250 ticket should get everybody’s attention.”
Brevard County community correspondent James Sparvero then turned his conversation with Rendell toward a new cell phone policy the school board is set to debate on Tuesday.
The board is considering not allowing K-12 students to use their phones at any time during the school day.
Rendell called it a strengthening of the phone policy that was enacted during debates about student discipline in recent years.
Students weren’t allowed to use their phones in class.
“The board’s taking a step to make sure that students don’t use the cell phones at all during the day,” Rendell said. “The idea is from the first bell of the day to the last bell of the day, students aren’t using their cell phones. They’re not distracted. They focus on their school work.”
Parent Rebecca Dean said she thinks it’s a bad idea.
“I just think, overall, it’s a better option for our kids to have their phones,” she said.
For parents who are concerned that their children won’t have access to their phone in case of emergency, Rendell said they will be able to.
“Students are always gonna be able to access their phones if they need to in emergency,” he said. “And also, we used to handle emergencies without cell phones years ago. So, we’ll still be able to do that.”