No talking in class takes on added meaning at Limestone County schools.

Under a policy approved Monday, students can bring cellular telephones to school if they are shut off during school hours. This is a change from last year when cellular telephones were banned.

Limestone County school board members approved a draft of the new cellular phone policy during their regular meeting Monday. They intend to make a few changes – including one that would temporarily ban a student from bringing a phone to school if he or she violates the policy more than once. Here’s what the policy states:

•Cell phones must be turned off on school campus during the instructional day.

•Cell phones must be turned off on school buses.

•Cell phones must be carried in a book bag, purse or other bag and not be carried or worn.

•School administrators can make exceptions about when and where cell phones may be used, based on extenuating circumstances that serve a school purpose or need.

•Cell phones will be confiscated from any student who violates the policy. The phone will be returned only to his or her parents.

•Teachers can have cell phones as long as they turn them off during instructional time.

One board member wondered what would transpire if a cell phone rang during school hours.

“If it goes off, will it be returned to the parents the next day or in a period of days?” asked board member Earl Glaze.

Dr. Barry Carroll, superintendent of schools, said, “We don’t have anything set in stone, only that it be returned to the parents. ”

“I’m concerned about them going off in class, and I think there should be a period of time before it is returned,” Glaze said.

Carroll said such a provision could be added to the policy. It would ban a student whose phone rang during class on more than one occasion from bringing a phone for a period of time.

Board members will discuss the revised policy at the Sept. 5 meeting.

Also Monday, board members heard a proposal by the Limestone County Water and Sewer Authority to take over all of the sewer systems at nine county schools.

“You may not want to be in the business of sewer, ” Tony Sneed, general manager of the authority, told board members. “I think it s a good deal and we did it on a break-even basis.”

Under the proposal, the authority would spend $2 million to repair or replace treatment facilities at the nine schools. The schools would repay that over 20 years at 4.75 percent interest. The schools would also pay an additional $110,000 per year to have the authority operate and maintain all of the systems. So, each year the schools would pay a total of $268,000 for sewage treatment or about $3.33 per student, Sneed said.

He said the schools are now paying about $4 per student in having to repair, replace, operate and maintain its sewage systems.

Although the schools now pay the authority $70,000 to operate and maintain all of its sewer systems, the rate for that service has not increased in six years. He said it would have to go up to $110,000. The authority has already acquired the East Limestone High School plant and will help the school shut down an old wastewater lagoon. Systems at Ardmore, Cedar Hill and Career Technical Center would not be included in the proposal because they are already on other sewer systems.

Sneed encouraged board members to consider the offer and get estimates from others on doing the same work.

“I think it is an opportunity for the board to hear proposals,” Carroll said after the meeting.

Board members will discuss the matter again at the Sept. 5 meeting.