Geneva Schools No Cell Phones starts Wednesday

GENEVA — The sight of students checking Facebookon their cell phones or text messaging classmates willbe rare in 2011-12. The city school system’s zero-tolerance cell-phone policy bans students fromhaving electronic devices in school. The measure goesinto effect Wednesday, coinciding with the start ofclasses.Students have been asked to leave their electronicsat home or in their vehicles — or check them at the door. Bagging stations will be set up and phones collected and tagged for owners at both the front and back of the building.Meanwhile, a proposed uniform policy is on the back burner for now. Details of the policy need to be ironed out, including procedures for those unable to afford a school uniform.Officials are hopeful that such policies, along with other program changes will make a difference in graduation rates and academic performance.