By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – State Representative Oliver Robinson has introduced a measure that would allow students to have cell phones at schools, but they would have to have permission from a school official before using them. He says the state law that bans Alabama students from having electronic communication devices at school needs to be changed. The law was designed primarily to ban pagers, which were seen as a way to help deal drugs at school. The proposal comes after Birmingham city schools employees searched several Ramsay Alternative High school students April first. System officials confiscated 223 cell phones. Some parents were upset, but school system officials said they were obeying the state law. Birmingham School Superintendent Wayman Shiver Junior says local school boards should have the power to make their own policies concerning cell phones and other electronic devices.