Between blocks

of public testimony on school bus route changes, the Fayette County Board

of Education did manage to conduct some binding business Monday night.

With nearly

no reaction and little feedback, the board signed off on a change in the

policy toward possession of electronic devices, or rather cell phones,

that had tentatively been okayed earlier this month. The policy conforms

to new state law that allows the devices to be carried by students, which

is a popular way ofstaying in touch with them, parents contend.

Though some

educators disagree, Fayette administrators admit that local students have

mostly been carrying the phones with them to school anyway, just hiding

them or turning themoff. The policy strictly forbids the use of the phones

afternoon, they are allowed to make calls.

In other business,

the board:

·Heard

from finance director James Stephens, who said the books after the first

quarter of the new fiscal year were in order;

·Approved

a block of personnel changes, including 24 transfers within the system

and 32 new hires. Among the new employees is Joyce Hill, a new assistant

principal at Fayette County High, who previously worked in Walton County;

·Considered

job descriptions for Assistant Superintendent of Operations and Fixed

Assets Specialist/Finance, both new positions;

·Gave

the OK to the Elementary and Secondary Student Code of Conduct for 2003-2004;

·Heard

an update on school construction projects from manager Klaus Darnell,

who reported that skylights were going in at Whitewater High and the softball

field was being sodded; that Crabapple Lane Elementary had been through

the punch-list inspection, which was in the hands of the architect; and

that kitchen projects at East Fayette and Fayetteville Intermediate schools

should be completed by the third week in October.