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Powhatan, Virginia
The hometown paper of James H. Jones
Vol. XXVI No. 30
July 25, 2012
Focus on ‘fun’-damentals Future football players picked up pointers at summer clinic. See 3B
Schools The sunflower lady of Ballsville debate phone R policy By Emily Darrell Staff Writer
oute 13, from Cumberland to Plain View, is a nice place to take a drive, and the prettiest spot on this drive – at least in the summertime – might just be the field of sunflowers belonging to Mrs. Georgianne Matthews. Matthews, who was born in Cumberland, has been living in her Ballsville home since 1964. She has always loved flowers. Her children joke that her house contains enough silk flowers to circle a grave a hundred times. Back in 1990, when Bobby
see Sunflowers page 3A
At recent School Board workshop cell phone, Internet issues at forefront of discussion By Emily Darrell Staff Writer
PHOTO BY EMILY DARRELL
A little rain can’t keep her down. Georgianne Matthews, of Ballsville, shows off her locally-famous field of sunflowers, as well as her sunny disposition.
Schools’ shoe showdown Flip-flops are one thing but school leaders don’t agree on heel height
flops be banned from all Powhatan County Public Schools, there wasn’t too much protest. “I just think it’s a liability issue,” he said, in regards to students wearing the open-toed beach shoes By Emily Darrell in a school environment. Staff Writer But when Kunka suggested that the Board also set a policy mandatWhen District 2 School Board ing a maximum heel height – for Member James Kunka suggested at a special workshop last week that flipsee Shoe page 3A
Should students be permitted to use cell phones during lunchtime? In between classes? What if the student is texting with a parent about after-school pick-up plans? Should this be allowed? If you take a student’s cell phone away because he’s using it during class, when should you give it back? At the end of the day? The end of the week? Should a parent or guardian have to retrieve the phone? Or should it be returned to the student? And how about social networking sites? Is it ever appropriate for student and teacher to be “friends” on Facebook? What if the student is 18? These were among the questions members of the Powhatan County School Board hashed out at a workshop held last week on the coming year’s policy and procedures. Though other items such attendance policies and dress codes (See: “Shoe Showdown,” left) were discussed, social networking, cyberbullying, and, especially, cell phone usage, were the topics that dominated the meeting. Like virtually every other school district in the nation, Powhatan is deciding how best to adapt its policies to a student population that has grown up with cell phones and internet as part of everyday life. “Basically people don’t know what to do about it, but they want something done about it,” Superintendent Dr. Margaret Meara said, regarding cell phone use in the schools. Current PCPS policy is that students may not use or display cell phones at all during school hours; if they do, they are subject on the first offense to having their phone confiscated and on later offenses to more drastic punishments. “We’re trying to find out a way that cell phones and other types of devices can be used in instruction, but we don’t feel like we’re there yet,” Meara said. Though the board won’t vote on the 2012/2013 policies until its August meeting, the general feeling seems to be “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.’” Regarding confiscation, School Board Chair Debbie Jones said: “It really hasn’t reduced the numbers [of see Phones page 3A
Inside
Sports
Index
A4 Powhatan Scene See what your friends and neighbors have been up to.
B1 Mr. Versatility Post 201’s Colton Konvicka has proved invaluable in new position this summer.
Calendar A5 Letters A12 Classified B10 Obituaries A6 Crime Report A2 Opinion A12 Crossword A13 Quotes A2 Extra Points B1 Real Estate B8 Horoscope A13 TV Listings B12-13