School board member Danny Hale says he wants to see the school district’s student policy on cell phones and personal electronic devices less restrictive, giving principals the authority to allow students to freely use phones between classes or during lunch times.

Hale at the Board of Education’s Jan. 10 study session said he isn’t ready to formally propose policy changes yet. However, he wants Director of Schools Del Phillips to look at expanding the school system’s technology plan to possibly include a designated cell phone use time and “Bring Your Own Technology” to school policy.

The school board in November 2010 relaxed a districtwide ban on student cell phones, allowing them only during the school day if used under the supervision of a teacher for educational purposes. Hale said on Wednesday the policy is contradictory because it says students are prohibited from having cell phones with them during the school day unless they’re being used for class exercises.

“How do you get them to class with their cell phone if they’re not allowed to have it on them on their way to class?” he said.

Hale said a more open policy with limitations, and educating students about cell phone etiquette and use would better serve everyone.

“I think we have to realize they are already using their phones at school,” he said. “We need to embrace it and be talking to them about the proper use of technology.”

Board policy changed in 2009 to allow students to use personal computers, electronic devices and digital storage media, but only with the permission of a supervising teacher or school staff member.

Just two schools, Gallatin High School and Merrol Hyde Magnet School, have programs in place that allow students to register laptops, tablets or ebooks for classroom instruction on restricted Wi-Fi Internet access.

The number of students registering personal devices at Gallatin High School has increased steadily the last three years, said Rhonda Bruce, library and media specialist at the school. This year, 150 students registered laptops, tablets or ebook readers, she said