Changes ahead for school cell phone policy

Summerland students will notice one new change when they return to classes following the holiday break.

"From bell to bell, students will not be on cell phones," high school principal Jacob Birch told board of education members during the Dec. 11 meeting.

Students will be allowed to have phones during passing periods, lunch, before and after school and at activities.

"We're not opposed to other things, but we think this is the first step to tell students, 'Show us you can be off them during class.'"

Birch said statistics tying depression to cell phone usage are available.

"They're ... depressi...