HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2003.07.31 - 13006MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #03200
BY: Mattie M. Hatchett, District #10
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS - SUPPORT OF STATE LEGISLATION ALLOWING LOCAL
SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO REGULATE THE USE OF CELL PHONES ON SCHOOL CAMPUSES
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS Public Act 215 of 1988, amended the School Code to prohibit school boards from permitting
students to carry pocket pagers or electronic communication devices while in school; and
WHEREAS presently, school boards may only allow the use of pagers and communication devices for health
or other unusual reasons; and
WHEREAS for many families, the cell phone has become a necessity and the current law does not reflect this
shift in culture wherein wireless communication devices are a way of life for a significant number of people;
and
WHEREAS the current law should be updated so that each school is allowed to determine how to handle cell
phone use at the school; and
WHEREAS House Bill 4218 proposes to amend the Revised School Code to lift the prohibition against
students carrying pocket pagers, electronic communication devices or other personal communication devices,
beginning with the 2004-2005 school year; and
WHEREAS House Bill 4218 continues to allow a school board or board of directors to develop penalties for
violators of its own policy; and
WHEREAS House Bill 4218 has received support from the Michigan Association of School Administrators, the
Michigan Association of School Boards, the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals, the
Michigan Federation of Teachers and Oakland Schools.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby supports
state legislation that removes the statewide ban of the use of cell phones and other electronic devices.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners supports state legislation that
allows school district officials to adopt policies that meet their local needs and gives local school districts the
discretion to impose rules and regulations that more carefully govern the use of cell phones and electronic
devices on school campuses.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk forward copies of this adopted resolution to the
Governor of the State of Michigan, Oakland County delegation to the state legislature, the Michigan
Association of Counties and County’s legislative lobbyists.
Chairperson, we move the adoption of the foregoing resolution.
MATTIE HATCHETT, DAVID COULTER, ERIC
COLEMAN, HELAINE ZACK, HUGH
CRAWFORD, VINCENT GREGORY, THOMAS
MIDDLETON, BILL BULLARD, ERIC WILSON,
TOM McMILLIN, MICHAEL ROGERS,
CHRISTINE LONG, JEFF POTTER, MARTIN
KNOLLENBERG, EILEEN KOWALL
The Vice-Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee. There were no
objections.